Barcelona celebrated their former top defender, Dani Alves after defeating his team, Pumas UNAM, 6-0 in the Joan Gamper Cup at Camp Nou.
Barcelona lifted their 45th Joan Gamper trophy after putting to rout a less brilliant and lackluster MLS side Pumas UNAM, who were led to the Camp Nou by former Barcelona legend, Dani Alves. Pumas UNAM were overwhelmed by a more clinical and brilliant Barcelona team with their jeering fans as the 12th player against the visitors.
New signing Robert Lewandowski opened the scoring in the 3rd minute to put the Xavi Hermandez-led team in the lead. Lewandowski registered his first goal at Camp Nou since joining the Catalan club from Bayern Munich.
Pedri, who later bagged a brace in the game, made it 2-0 in the 5th minute. Ousmane Dembele made it 3-0 in the 10th minute before Pedri struck again in the 19th minute to bag his first jar brace and sink the visitors to a 4-0 first-half defeat.
Dani Alves could do little or nothing to salvage his club against an overwhelming Barcelona side. The second recorded only two goals; Aubamenyang and Frenkie De Jong were on target as the Catalans made it 6-0.
Four minutes into the second half, Aubamenyang scored to make it 5-0. With a bit more composure in the defense, the visitors were able to contain their hosts, reducing the rate of the goal rush. But Frenkie De Jong got another breakthrough in the 84th minute to make it 6-0 to the hosts. It was a fantastic and clinical finish from the Man United target. De Jong ambushed Unam’s player from behind and charged upfront, and fired into the net. Barcelona won 6-0, beating Dani Alves’s team to lift their 45th Joan Gamper trophy.
Despite a thumping defeat and abysmal performance by his team, Dani Alves could not suppress his joy and excitement as Barcelona celebrated the player after the match with a rousing send-forth ceremony. The club thanked the player for his immense contribution to the team during his spell with the club. Dani Alves joined UNAM Pumas in 2022 from Barcelona. He has played for the Catalans twice in his football career. Dani Alves’s first spell with Barca was in 2008, where he joined the team from Sevilla.
The Brazil international made 247 appearances for the Blaugrana and scored 14 goals in his 8 years spell with the club. He left the team for Juventus in 2016. He later moved to Paris Saint Germain in 2017 and then to Sao Paulo in 2019. Dani Alves returned to Barcelona in 2021 and spent just a year in the club, making 14 appearances and scoring 1 goal. He moved to UNAM Pumas in 2022 after signing a one-year contract that will keep him in the MLS till 2023.
Dani Alves is one of the most decorated defenders in Europe. He has won many trophies and honors. A significant part of his career success with Barcelona. He has won the La Liga, Copa Del Rey, Super Cup, Club World Cup, and other trophies with Barcelona.
The 39-year-old may be approaching the twilight of his football career, and the send-forth ceremony by Barcelona was a well-deserved event fo a star who has contributed immensely to the emergence of Barcelona as a top club in Europe.
