No Messi, no problem as Barcelona defeat Juventus

Barcelona started life without Lionel Messi on Sunday with a 3-0 win over Juventus in the pre-season Gamper Trophy.

Messi had earlier Sunday said his farewells to the club he had served for 20 years at a tearful news conference.

Memphis Depay opened the scoring for Barcelona after just three minutes with Martin Braithwaite adding a second goal just before the hour mark from a corner.

Barcelona’s Spanish midfielder Riqui Puig (C) celebrates with teammates after scoring his team’s third goal during the 56th Joan Gamper Trophy friendly football match between Barcelona and Juventus at the Johan Cruyff Stadium in Sant Joan Despi near Barcelona on August 8, 2021. (Photo by Pau BARRENA / AFP)

In Sunday’s other high-profile friendly, Real Madrid and AC Milan fought to a 0-0 stalemate.

Spain’s La Liga season gets underway on Friday while the Italian Serie A starts on August 22.