On August 11th, La Liga giants Barcelona faced Serie A side Como—managed by 38-year-old Spanish coach Cesc Fàbregas—in the Gamper Trophy final. On paper, Barça (total squad value over €1.1 billion) dwarfed Como (under €300 million), with over 90% of fans predicting an easy Blaugrana victory pre-match.
Just 1 minute into the first half, Como’s Vangelis Pavlidis headed from close range, but Barça keeper Joan García made a brilliant save to deny him. Eleven minutes later, Fàbregas erupted on the touchline over a referee’s decision, showing visible anger.
In the 20th minute, a sloppy Como backpass was intercepted by Fermín López, who drove to the edge of the box and fired a low shot into the net, giving Barça the lead! Fourteen minutes later, 18-year-old prodigy Lamine Yamal’s tight-angle effort was blocked, but moments later, Frenkie de Jong played a pinpoint pass to Fermín, who unleashed an unstoppable "10/10" world-class strike from the arc to make it 2-0!
Only 2 minutes later, ex-Manchester United star Marcus Rashford surged down the right flank and squared unselfishly for Raphinha to tap home from close range, extending the lead to 3-0. Five minutes on, Raphinha laid it off for Yamal to slot into an empty net, making it 4-0! In first-half stoppage time, Yamal set up Rashford, who rounded the keeper but fired wide with the goal gaping.
Four minutes into the second half, Ferran Torres’ pinpoint diagonal pass found Yamal, who drilled home from the right to complete his brace, making it 5-0! Two minutes later, Yamal crossed from the left, but Torres fluffed an open goal from the right—fans joked, "Did Rashford rub off on him? That was painful to watch!"
Barça cruised to a 5-0 victory, lifting the Gamper Trophy, with Fermín and Yamal stealing the spotlight with their sensational displays.
