Sunday's International Champions Cup match in Florence pitted Fiorentina against Barcelona.
The home side led 2-0 inside 12 minutes courtesy of a quick-fire double from Federico Bernardeschi.
Barcelona hit back in the 17th minute, however, when Luis Suarez converted from close range.
Both teams had chances in the second period, but neither could add to the scoring as Fiorentina ran out 2-1 winners.
Read how it all unfolded in Sports Mole's minute-by-minute live commentary of the action below.
7.01pmEvening all! Sports Mole's live pre-season coverage continues from Florence as Fiorentina welcome European champions Barcelona in the International Champions Cup. Both of these teams are building towards the start of their respective league campaigns on August 23, but Barcelona certainly have the busier schedule over the next couple of weeks. Let's hope for an entertaining match this evening!
7.02pmFirst and foremost, let me bring you up-to-speed with the team news.
7.04pmTEAMS:
FIORENTINA: To follow.
BARCA: Ter Stegen; Roberto, Pique, Vermaelen, Alba; Rakitic, Busquets, Iniesta; Pedro, Suarez, Rafinha
7.07pmSo there we have it. Thomas Vermaelen is once again given the chance to impress at centre-back for Barcelona, while there is also a spot at right-back for Sergi Roberto. Further forward, Pedro, who continues to be linked with a move to Manchester United, starts alongside Luis Suarez and Rafinha.
7.10pmHEAD-TO-HEAD! Fiorentina and Barcelona have met on six separate occasions. Barca have posted three wins during that run of matches, while Fiorentina have won just once and the further two games have ended level. The last time that the pair met was in the group stages of the 1999-2000 Champions League, when Barcelona won 4-2 at the Camp Nou, before the pair played out a 3-3 draw in Florence.
7.13pmStill no sign of the team news from Fiorentina, who are making Barcelona sweat on their selection. It is expected to be a strong XI on display from Paulo Sousa though. Let me do some more digging...
7.16pm... no luck yet. Anyway, a strong end to the 2014-15 Serie A campaign saw Fiorentina finish fourth in the table for a third successive season and as a result, secure more Europa League football. That was not enough for Vincenzo Montella to keep his job, however, and breaking into the top three is now the challenge for the recently-appointed head coach Paulo Sousa. The Italians have not been overly busy in the transfer market thus far though, with Mario Suarez their only high-profile acquisition this summer.
7.19pmThe Italian side are also in the very early stages of their preparations for the new campaign, having only played two pre-season fixtures thus far. On July 22, they were beaten 4-2 by Paris Saint-Germain, before drawing 0-0 – winning on penalties - with Benfica three days later. This clash with Barcelona is part of a quick-fire double-header, with Chelsea to come on Wednesday. Still no Fiorentina team news here!
7.22pmTEAMS:
FIORENTINA: Tatarusanu; Rodriguez, Tomovic, Roncaglia, Pasqual; Joaquin, Valero, Badelj, Ilicic; Babacar, Bernardeschi
BARCA: Ter Stegen; Roberto, Pique, Vermaelen, Alba; Rakitic, Busquets, Iniesta; Pedro, Suarez, Rafinha
7.25pmSo there we have it. Fiorentina have now confirmed their team for tonight's match. As expected, it is a strong XI, with the likes of Joaquin, Borja Valero and Josip Ilicic all involved. There is also a spot in attack for 22-year-old forward Khouma Babacar, but new signing Mario Suarez is not involved from the start.
7.28pmIn terms of looking forward, the Chelsea friendly on August 5 is actually Fiorentina's final confirmed pre-season match. The draw for the new Serie A season recently took place and it is a tasty start for Sousa's side, who open at home to AC Milan on August 23. Facing Barcelona here will be a strong indicator of just how much work is needed before the clash against Milan. The atmosphere is building in Florence!
7.31pmAs for Barcelona, they have a more packed fixture list in the weeks ahead. This match is the Catalan outfit's final pre-season fixture before they return to competitive action, with three games before the start of the La Liga season. On August 11, Luis Enrique's side will face Sevilla in the European Super Cup, before travelling to Athletic Bilbao for the first leg of the Spanish Super Cup just three days later.
7.34pmThe second leg of the Spanish Super Cup takes place at the Camp Nou on August 17, before Barcelona open their La Liga season away to – you guessed it – Bilbao on August 23. Three successive matches against Bilbao, which is not quite what Enrique would have had in mind. Securing the two trophies on offer are of course important, but they rank down the list in terms of hopes for the new campaign.
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7.37pmBarcelona's start to the new La Liga season is also quite tricky. Real Madrid have a really good set of fixtures in the early stages, which places more emphasis on a strong start. After facing Bilbao, Barca host Malaga, before travelling to Atletico Madrid in their third game of the season. Next comes a home game against Levante, before a really tough trip to Celta Vigo on September 23. A tough start indeed.
7.40pmFiorentina might have only played two pre-season games thus far, but this will be Barca's fourth friendly this month. The Catalan outfit opened their preparations for the new campaign with a 2-1 win over Los Angeles Galaxy, before suffering a 3-1 defeat to Manchester United on July 25. Chelsea were next on the agenda and the two teams played out a 2-2 draw in 90 minutes, before Chelsea won on penalties.
7.43pmBack-to-back defeats to Premier League opposition is not quite what Enrique would have had in mind, but his squad was far from full strength, while the tour allowed a number of young players to be given valuable experience. It will be fascinating to see what does occur transfer-wise at the Camp Nou from now until the end of the window. Two of these three will also soon be back with the squad...
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7.46pmYou have to go back to September 1964 to find the only time that Fiorentina have beaten Barcelona in a competitive match, with the Italian side recording a 1-0 victory in the Fairs Cup, which was a European competition played between 1955 and 1971. Barca are actually the most successful team in the history of that competition, having won the trophy on three occasions. How about that for a quiz question?
7.49pmWhat about this man... is it Pedro's last game for Barcelona tonight? Manchester United have been strongly linked with a £22m move for the Spaniard as they prepare to lose Angel di Maria to PSG.
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7.52pmFitness and preparation are of course the two most important aspects of tonight's match, but both managers will want to record what would be a morale-boosting win. Kickoff is not too far away here.
7.55pmPREDICTION! It is always difficult to predict pre-season games, especially when they involve two strong teams, but I think that you have to fancy Barcelona to record a victory here. I am expecting an entertaining and open game for long spells, and the visitors to run out narrow 2-1 winners.
7.58pmHere we go then. Both sets of players join us on the pitch for the first 45 minutes of action. It is a warm evening in Florence, while the pitch is in wonderful condition. We are all set for a good game.
0 minKICK OFF! The stadium is not quite full, but there is a strong atmosphere, with both clubs well supported tonight. It is the away side that get the first 45 minutes of action underway in Florence.
2 minAs expected, Barcelona have taken control of the possession in the opening couple of minutes, with Fiorentina immediately taking up a defensive shape. The hosts will have to be prepared to spend long periods without the ball, but head coach Sousa would have expected as much, that is for certain.
4 minRafinha has seen plenty of possession for Barcelona in the early stages and the midfielder attempts to slide a pass into Alba, but the Fiorentina goalkeeper is quick off his line to claim inside the box.
4 minGOAL! Fiorentina 1-0 Barcelona (Bernardeschi)
5 minWow! What a start! Fiorentina take the lead in the fourth minute as Valero delivers a super cross onto the head of Bernardeschi, who flicks his header past Ter Stegen. What a moment for the young striker!
7 minCHANCE! Barcelona really should be level as Pique flicks a super pass into the path of Rakitic, who fires towards goal, but Tatarusanu is on hand to make a smart save. End-to-end football!
8 minSome pre-season games take a while to get going - that has not been the case here! Both teams are committing plenty of men to each attack, which is creating an open and entertaining spectacle.
10 minAs expected, Barcelona are enjoying the majority of the possession, but Fiorentina look very dangerous each time they manage to break past the midfield. It has been a super opening 10 minutes.
11 minAnother half-chance for Barcelona as Rakitic and Suarez both look favourite to meet a loose ball inside the Fiorentina box, but Rodriguez comes from nowhere to make an excellent block. Strong defending.
12 minGOAL! Fiorentina 2-0 Barcelona (Bernardeschi)
13 minGood grief! Fiorentina score their second of the match and this time it is all about Joaquin, who drops his shoulder down the line before delivering into Bernardeschi, who wrong-foots the goalkeeper!
15 minBarcelona have had the majority of the ball possession thus far, but two crosses and two smart finishes have seen Fiorentina lead 2-0 with 15 minutes on the clock. Luis Enrique is not best pleased!
17 minBarcelona are lacking a cutting edge at the moment, which is not all that surprising when taking into account that they are missing arguably their best two players in Messi and Neymar. Suarez is always dangerous, but they need a little bit more from the likes of Pedro and Rafinha at the moment.
17 minGOAL! Fiorentina 2-1 Barcelona (Suarez)
18 minWell I said Suarez was dangerous and the striker has just cut the deficit to one goal after converting a through pass from Rakitic. Tatarusanu came to claim, but Suarez simply beat the stopper to the ball.
19 minCHANCE! Opportunity for Pedro to level the scores as the Spaniard collects a deep cross from Roberto, but his effort flashes wide of the post. It is all all happening at the moment in Florence.
22 minSAVE! Once again the Fiorentina goalkeeper is called into action to deny Pedro, who had combined with Suarez before firing towards goal. Barcelona are really threatening an equaliser in Florence.
24 minThe referee has been more involved than he would have liked in the last few moments following a couple of late challenges, which is an indication of the type of intensity that is present in this game.
26 minPossession football from Barcelona at the moment as they continue to pass and probe, but Fiorentina have the pace to threaten on the counter and Joaquin almost has the chance to sprint away.
26 minCHANCE! Yet another opportunity for Barcelona as Alba arrives unmarked inside the Fiorentina box, but the defender's header is over the crossbar. Where was the marking from Fiorentina!
27 minSAVE! Pedro does brilliantly to drive down the right before cutting into the Fiorentina box and attempting to find the bottom corner, but Tatarusanu does well to get down and make the save!
30 minWe have not seen too much from Fiorentina since they scored their second, which seems a long time ago now! Barcelona have been in control since the 13th minute and should probably be level.
32 minThere is not too much of an atmosphere inside the stadium this evening, which is a shame for a game of this magnitude. Fiorentina once again have the chance to break with Babacar, but the striker just loses control at the vital moment and Pique is on hand to clear. Still 2-1 Barcelona in Italy.
34 minFiorentina are finding it difficult to get out of their own half at the moment as Barcelona continue to press high up the field. Iniesta, meanwhile, seems to have a problem after hitting the deck.
35 minIniesta is back on his feet, but does not look too comfortable and no risks will be taken at this stage of pre-season. Little over 10 minutes of what has been an entertaining first half remaining.
37 minFiorentina threaten once again from a wide area as Pasqual finds space down the left before delivering, but Pique makes contact ahead of Babacar. Good defending from the Spaniard there.
38 minBarcelona again threaten as Alba delivers a dangerous cross towards Suarez, but Fiorentina's Romanian goalkeeper manages to make contact with a strong first. Nasty collision there!
39 minSuarez is accused of throwing an elbow into the face of the Fiorentina stopper, but I am not sure that there was too much in it, despite the protests of a number of the Italian side's players.
40 minCHANCE! Glaring miss from Suarez! Pedro picks out his fellow attacker with a super through pass, but the Uruguay international slices well wide of the post. What an opportunity!
43 minNot too much to report in terms of clear chances in the last couple of minutes, but Babacar is causing problems to the Barcelona back four with his pace and power. Pique is again forced to come across and challenge the striker, before the resulting corner is wasted, with Valero's cross too high.
45 minAnother half-chance for Fiorentina as Babacar's presence allows Bernardeschi the chance to have another shot from outside the box, but Pique is again on hand to deflect behind for a corner.
45 min+1HALF-TIME: Fiorentina 2-1 Barcelona
8.52pmSo there we have it. The referee brings the first period to a close with Barcelona trailing 2-1 in Fiorentina. The home side took a two-goal lead inside the first 12 minutes courtesy of a double from Bernardeschi, but Suarez's strike in the 17th minute moved Barca to within one goal of the hosts.
8.57pmBENCH WATCH! There were no changes in the first 45 minutes in Florence, but both managers will surely look to utilise their squads in the second period. Fiorentina have the likes of Rossi, Marcus Alonso, Sepe and Hegazi on their bench this evening. Barcelona boss Enrique, meanwhile, will surely give minutes to players in the shape of Munir, Sandro, Gumbau and Halilovic.
9.02pmJust a reminder that Barcelona are still without the likes of Messi, Neymar, Alves and Mascherano following their exertions in the Copa America this summer. That said, Enrique will feel that he still has enough quality to win this match. In truth, the visitors are unfortunate to be behind in Florence.
46 minBACK UNDERWAY! Here we go then. Both sets of players rejoin us on the pitch for the second 45 minutes of action. Bare with me while I confirm any changes that might have occurred...
46 minBARCA SUB: Munir has replaced Iniesta.
46 minFIORENTINA SUB: Rossi and Suarez are both on for Fiorentina. Outgoings are...
47 min... Babacar and Badelj. So, not too many changes at this point. Thankfully!
49 minNot an awful lot to report in the early stages of the second period, with both teams attempting to find their way into the match with a spell of possession. Late challenges continue to occur meanwhile.
50 minCHANCE! Barcelona come close to levelling as Pedro delivers a super cross into Suarez, who looks certain to slide home, but Roncaglia is across to make a wonderful clearance!
52 minSuarez is again involved for Barcelona as the striker sets up Pedro outside the box, but Tomovic is on hand to make a super block. Rakitic eventually has a strike on goal, but Tatarusanu saves.
53 minHalf-chance for Rossi this time as the Italian meets a super cross from Ilicic, but his effort is deflected over the crossbar. It is excellent to see Rossi back in action - let's hope he can stay free of injury!
55 minBarcelona looked to be in control of this second period, but Fiorentina have turned the tables in the last minute or two and now look favourite to grab a third goal here. Still 2-1 Fiorentina in Italy.
57 minJoaquin continues to cause problems in a wide area as he drops his shoulder and delivers another cross, but Pique is on hand to clear the danger. Barca break down the other end moments later with Roberto, who delivers a super cross onto the head of Munir, who forces a save from Tatarusanu.
58 minIlicic spots Ter Stegen off his line and attempts to beat the Barcelona goalkeeper, but the attacker's effort was always moving wide of the post. Little over 30 minutes of football remaining tonight.
59 minCHANCE! Wonderful chance for Rossi to score a third for Barcelona as the Italian meets another smart cross from Ilicic, but his effort is wide of the post. Pique looked troubled there!
61 minNot an awful lot happening in the final third for Barcelona at the moment as Suarez has another cross deflected into the arms of the goalkeeper. The away side are preparing more changes here...
62 min... the Fiorentina stopper is again forced into a smart save to deny Rafinha.
63 minCHANCES! Barcelona really should be level here! First, Suarez is denied by a wonderful save from the goalkeeper, before Rodriguez makes a super block to keep out a Pedro effort!
64 minFIORENTINA SUBS: Alonso and Vecino replace Ilicic and Joaquin for the hosts.
64 minBARCA SUBS: Sandro and Bartra replace Suarez and Roberto.
66 minAnother half-chance for Barcelona as Pedro cuts inside three defenders before driving one towards the bottom corner, but his effort was always moving just wide of the post. Still 2-1 Fiorentina here.
68 minYou just get the feeling that the next goal - if there indeed is one - will be crucial in terms of the final result. Should Barcelona equalise, then you would have to fancy them to go on and win. On the other hand, a third for Fiorentina could well kill off this match as a contest. Little over 20 minutes to play.
70 minBarcelona are in control of the possession at the moment as they continue to pass and probe in the final third, but Fiorentina have improved defensively after a shaky start. It's been a super game.
71 minSAVE! The Fiorentina goalkeeper is almost caught out at his near post as Rakitic delivers a cross towards Munir, but the Romanian manages to palm behind for a corner. Nervy!
73 minResults are obviously not that important during pre-season, but Enrique will be mindful of losing a third straight game here. They have been beaten by Manchester United and Chelsea in their last two, although the Chelsea defeat was on penalties after a 3-3 draw. Fiorentina have another half-chance as Pasqual finds space outside the Barca box, but his effort was always moving over the crossbar.
75 minBarcelona manage to break the offside trap through Sandro, who manages to shake off two defenders before finding Pedro, but the Spaniard is crowded out inside the box by two defenders.
75 minFIORENTINA SUBS: Bagadur and Rebic replace Pasqual and Ilicic.
77 minBarcelona break with pace and indeed numbers as Sandro uses his pace to drive into the final third, but it is a little bit too over-elaborate from the visitors and Fiorentina manage to clear the danger.
78 minBARCA SUBS: Masip and Gumbau replace Ter Stegan and Rafinha.
81 minBoth teams have now made a whole host of changes, but the intensity of the game is still very high as both continue to press forward. Little under 10 minutes of football remaining in Florence.
83 minFiorentina are having to do plenty of defending at the moment as Barcelona continue to press forward, but the away side's final ball has not been too impressive in the second 45 minutes.
84 minHalf-chance for Barcelona as Pique meets a corner from the right, but his header was always flashing past the post. Little over five minutes of this International Champions Cup match remaining.
86 minBarcelona remain the team on the front foot as they continue to work the ball into wide areas, but Fiorentina's defence has been excellent in the second half. Down the other end, Rossi is proving a threat with his constant movement. Fiorentina are not far away from recording an excellent win here.
89 minBarcelona are desperately attempting to force a penalty shootout here, but they are leaving themselves open at the back, with Rossi and Valero both lingering past the half-way line.
90 min+1We are into the first of three added minutes in Florence.
90 min+3Barcelona continue to threaten, but Fiorentina once again hammer clear and time is running out. It does appear that it will be a very impressive victory for the Serie A side this evening.
90 min+4FULL-TIME: Fiorentina 2-1 Barcelona
10pmSo there we have it. The referee brings the second period to a close with Barcelona falling to a 2-1 defeat at Fiorentina. Thanks for joining Sports Mole for the action. Until next time!
