By Tom Etherington 2013-08-03 11:00:00
Reuters
Barcelona won the 48th edition of the Joan Gamper Trophy with a thumping 8-0 win over Santos on Friday but Neymar failed to find the net against his former club.
The 21-year-old left his boyhood club in a high-profile €57 million switch to Camp Nou this summer and Santos were confirmed for the annual glamour friendly as part of the transfer agreement.
Gerardo Martino was able to welcome back Barcelona's Confederations Cup stars and he named a strong starting XI for his first game in charge.
But Neymar, who made his first appearance in a friendly against Lechia Gdansk on Tuesday, started on the bench.
Lionel Messi set Barca on their way with a goal in the eighth minute, after he pounced on a miss-kick from Pedro, before Dani Alves’ cross was deflected into his own net by defender Leo.
Alexis Sanchez made it 3-0 to the home side 10 minutes later and Pedro added another in the 28th when he reacted quickest to poke Jordi Alba's drilled cross into the net from a few yards out.
Santos rarely threatened and their only shot of the first half came from right-back Rafael Galardo, whose long-range effort went high over the crossbar and was greeted with ironic cheers from the home crowd.
The Spanish champions made eight changes at the break and Neymar was on the pitch with Messi for the first time for just over 15 minutes before the Argentina forward was substituted.
Cesc Fabregas made it 5-0 on 53 minutes by smashing Sanchez's neatly-threaded pass beyond substitute goalkeeper Vladimir, before he claimed a second on 68 minutes.
The former Arsenal man was picked out on the edge of the box wonderfully by Neymar before coolly finishing into the top left-hand corner.
There was to be no home debut goal for the Brazil international but the Barcafaithful were delighted with their new signing regardless.
Adriano scored the pick of the goals with a superb effort into the top corner from outside the box.
Neymar hit the crossbar in the 89th minute after being set up by Jean Marie Dongou, before the Barca B youngster completed the rout.