Every season starts somewhere and this wasn’t a bad place for Xavi Hernandez’s team to begin, even if it ended up in a draw.
2022 Club Friendlies
1-1
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang's stunning goal was not enough to earn Barcelona victory in their first pre-season friendly of the summer after a 1-1 draw with fifth-tier side Olot.
The former Arsenal striker latched on to a wonderful long ball from goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen, before finding an exceptional finish from outside the box to beat the advanced goalkeeper and give the Catalan giants the lead in the 28th minute.
But Eloi Amagat equalised for fellow Catalonian side Olot from the penalty spot just before half-time after Barcelona B defender Mika Marmol's foul.
Midfielders Franck Kessie and Pablo Torre were the only two summer signings to make their unofficial debuts, who could not force a winner despite taking 21 shots in the match in front of 3,000 spectators at the Estadi Municipal d'Olot.
Pedri - who was one of nine changes made at the break by Xavi - had two of the better chances of the second half saved by goalkeeper Albert Batalla, with the Catalan side often struggling to break their lower-league opponents down.
Ansu Fati also played 45 minutes, with midfield outcast Miralem Pjanic and Alex Collado also getting a run out in the second half having returned from their loans at Besiktas and Granada.
The result may not concern the Barcelona boss, with his side largely made up of Barcelona B members and players from squads further down in the academy setup.
But he may call on a few more of the established stars when they face David Beckham's MLS side Inter Miami in Florida on Tuesday.
The Catalan giants have also signed Andreas Christensen after he left Chelsea on a free transfer, while Raphinha's £56million move from Leeds is completed barring a medical.
The club have also reportedly submitted a £42m bid to sign Bayern Munich striker Robert Lewandowski, with Xavi hoping to have at least some of them available to play next week.
Xavi's men will be looking to snatch the Spanish league title off arch rivals Real Madrid this season, finishing runners-up to them in 2021-22 following a torrid start to the campaign.
Line-ups
UE Olot XI: Amagat, Moratalla, Carles Mas, David Bigas, Albert Batalla, Oriol Ayala, Ferrán Brugué, terma, callis, albert cerarols, jordi manzano
Subs: Xumetra, Enric Vallès, Albert Blázquez, Gonzalo, Gerard Batalla, sebastian coris, fores, serrano, manel busquets
Barcelona XI: Aubameyang, Ter Stegen, Kessie, Dest, Nico González, Mika Mármol, Ez Abde, Ilias Akhomach, Arnau Casas, Pablo Torre, alex valle
Subs: Pjanic, Pena, Álex Collado, Fati, Pedri, Antonio Aranda, Marc Casadó, Chadi Riad, Alejandro Balde, Fabio Blanco Gomez