Bravo error helps Napoli secure a narrow win over Barça
For their third successive friendly, Barcelona struggled to get going as a Claudio Bravo error gifted Napoli a 1-0 win in Geneva on Wednesday night.
Handed his first start as a Barça player since a summer move from Real Sociedad, Bravo had got his Barça career off to the best possible start.
A dangerous Napoli free kick was flicked towards the top corner by Marek Hamsik's head, but the Chilean stopper leaped dramatically to his left to impressively keep the ball out of the net.
He will therefore be disappointed with the manner in which he conceded the game's only goal.
A long-range strike from Blerim Dzemaili dipped, it may even have taken a tiny deflection too, but Bravo should have offered more resistance than the way he limply tried to stop the shot, only to see his efforts fail.
That said, it was only a friendly and you have to imagine things will start to warm up from here - Luis Enrique is unlikely to be losing too much sleep.
Next up is HJK Helsinki on Saturday, a match which should signal the return to action of Lionel Messi.
The Argentine has been back in training this week, as have Javier Mascherano, Dani Alves and Neymar, with the latter suggesting he'll be ready to take some part in the Joan Gamper Trophy later this month.
Against the Italians, though, it was Pedro Rodriguez who was frequently Barça's biggest threat.
Three times in the space of 10 second half minutes he saw shots fly into the side netting - the middle one, form a Jordi Alba cut back, represented the Canary Islander's best chance.
Munir El-Haddadi had the first noteworthy chance for Enrique's side in the first half, collecting a pass from Ivan Rakitic, who was the best player in the opening 45 minutes, only to be denied by alert goalkeeping from Rafael Cabral.
It was Bravo's error which eventually paved the way for a goal though, and not even some fancy footwork and shooting late on from Gerard Deulofeu could rescue a draw for the Catalans.
Barça: Bravo; Montoya, Pique (Ie 60), Bartra (Bagnack 75), Alba (Grimaldo 60); Sergio (Samper 60), Rakitic (Halilovic 60), Iniesta (Roberto 60); Rafinha (Deulofeu 75), Munir (Sandro 60), Pedro (Adama 75).
Subs: Ter Stegen, Masip.
Napoli: Rafael; Maggio (Mesto 46), Albiol, Koulibaly, Britos (Ghoulam 46); Jorginho (Inler 61), Gargano (Dzemaili 73), Callejon (Zubiga 73), Hamsik (Vargas 73), Insigne (Mertens 61); Duvan (Michu 46).
Subs: Colombo, Andujar, Luperto, Higuain.
Goal: Blerim Dzemaili 80.
