Ahmed Musa proved his worth to Leicester City by scoring twice against Barcelona, but it was not enough to prevent a 4-2 defeat for his side.
Barca led 3-0 at the interval in the six-goal thriller at the Friends Arena thanks to a Munir double and Luis Suarez's well-taken strike.
Musa was brought off the bench for the second half and added goals of a different type - one a calm finish and the other a powerful blast into the roof of the net.
City's hopes of a comeback in Stockholm were dashed late on when youngster Rafa Mujica rounded off the scoring, though, meaning back-to-back defeats for the Foxes.
Relive how the 90 minutes of action unfolded with Sports Mole's live text coverage.
Hello and welcome to Sports Mole's live text coverage of the pre-season friendly meeting between Barcelona and Leicester City at the Friends Arena in Stockholm. Foxes supporters may still be pinching themselves following the events that unravelled last season - their side won the Premier League if you've been living in a bubble! - but the new campaign is now less than a fortnight away.
City's reward for their incredible achievement last season is a place in the Champions League group stage, with manager Claudio Ranieri eager to use these high-profile friendlies as a chance to adapt to taking on the world's top sides. Paris Saint-Germain proved far too much for the Foxes last time out when claiming a comfortable 4-0 win, but Leicester have a chance to pull off an almighty scalp against Barcelona this evening.
Barcelona have prioritised time on the training ground over friendly matches so far this summer, having competed in just one match - a 3-1 triumph over Celtic last weekend. The Catalan giants are still without a whole cast of superstar players due to Copa America and Euro 2016 commitments, but their season officially gets underway in 11 days time when facing Sevilla in the European Super Cup.
This time last year a match between Leicester and Barcelona would have seemed like the biggest of mismatches for what is a big competition as far as pre-season goes, although if we have learned anything over the past 12 months it is that you can never write the Foxes off. They have largely kept their squad intact over the summer, too, with N'Golo Kante the only big name to depart thus far.
TEAM NEWS!
BARCELONA STARTING XI: Masip, Vidal, Mathieu, Marlon, Camara, Roberto, Denis, Arda, Messi, Suarez, Munir
LEICESTER CITY STARTING XI: Zieler, Simpson, Huth, Morgan, Chilwell, Albrighton, Drinkwater, King, Gray, Mahrez, Vardy
As touched upon a little earlier, Barcelona are still without a whole raft of their star performers at this late stage of pre-season. Gerard Pique, Ivan Rakitic, Andres Iniesta, Jordi Alba, Thomas Vermaelen, Claudio Bravo and Marc-Andre ter Stegen are all absent following their exertions at the Copa America and Euro 2016. Plenty of questions have been asked about the futures of Ter Stegen and Bravo in particular this week, with both men desperate to be named number one.
Reports in Spain suggest that Ter Stegen and Bravo have held talks with Barca chiefs due to a concern about squad rotation. Both men were used regularly last season, but neither wants to spend time on the bench this time around and have therefore asked for assurances. One way or another, it will be bad news for one of the top-class stoppers! Neither starts tonight, incidentally, as Josip Matip is given a chance to impress in their absence.
Javier Mascherano and Sergio Busquets were supposed to be absent, too, but both cut short their summer holidays and have been named in the 21-man squad. Neither is named in the starting lineup, yet that is not too surprising and we could still see one or the other in the second half when changes are made. Luis Suarez starts for the second game in a row, meanwhile, as does Lionel Messi alongside him and the keen-to-impress Munir.
In terms of the Leicester lineup, there is no Kasper Schmeichel between the sticks from the off; Ron-Robert Zieler, a signing from Hamburg this summer, instead being given the nod by Ranieri. It is a solid-looking back-four, bar the inclusion of Ben Chilwell who will be given another chance to impress after signing a new contract at the King Power Stadium. The youngster is highly thought of around these parts - and indeed on Merseyside - and he will relish the opportunity to take on a side of Barca's quality.
The midfield and forward line also looks particularly familiar, particularly with the inclusion of both Riyad Mahrez and Jamie Vardy in attack. Both have been linked with moves away at various points this summer; Vardy turning down Arsenal in June and his teammate still seemingly debating a move to the same location. Ranieri admitted earlier this week that he fears Mahrez could lose focus should talk of a switch to Arsenal continue, but that will likely be the case until the window closes - should he remain.
Luis Enrique fielded arguably the most famed front-free pairing in history last season: Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar - or 'MSN' for short. There is still no Neymar for Barca this evening, however, as he is preparing for the men's Olympic football tournament on home soil with Brazil, which will likely keep him out for the start of the new Spanish season.
So while Vardy and Mahrez remain Leicester players for now, Kante has indeed departed for Chelsea in a £32m deal. It really will be a huge loss for City over the coming months, but Ranieri has brought in five new players during the off-season - the latest being Poland international winger Bartosz Kapustka, who joined today for around £7.5m. Ahmed Musa is the other big-name arrival, becoming the Foxes' record signing when joining from Russian giants CSKA Moscow.
Since stunning the footballing world with their shock title success last season, Leicester have competed in three matches with mixed success. There was an opening-game 2-1 win at Oxford United when the league crown was paraded pre-match; a 1-1 draw with Celtic, which actually goes down as a win thanks to their penalty shootout triumph; and a 4-0 defeat to PSG in their last outing. That leaves the Foxes sitting on two points in the ICC table, with this their final match.
That heavy loss to the Parisians can hardly be described as a wake-up call for the Foxes - it must be remembered that this is still pre-season after all. Indeed, Ranieri was quick to take some positives away from the match when claiming that his side will benefit from facing off against some of Europe's biggest names. That will be the case in Stockholm tonight once more; no side in world football boasting quite as much pedigree as Barca at this moment in time.
Momentum would of course be nice for Ranieri, who takes his side to Wembley on Sunday for the annual Community Shield curtain-raiser. That is another friendly match, granted, but one that City supporters will be desperate to see their side win in order to keep this feel-good factor going into the new campaign. It is far too difficult to predict quite where City will finish this season - anywhere between first and 10th, depending on which season predictions you read.
PREVIOUS MEETINGS! Unsurprisingly, Leicester City have never faced off against Barcelona in competitive competition before. They have met on one previous occasion when it comes to friendlies, though - a 1-0 victory for the Spanish side in 2003 when Javier Saviola - remember him?! - scored the game's only goal. Captain that day? A certain Luis Enrique. Whatever happened to him?
While Leicester are riding the crest of the wave following their maiden title victory, this is a case of same old for their opponents. Barcelona are no strangers to silverware - the fact that last season's double triumph can be seen as anything over than an overwhelming success says all you need to know. The Catalan giants slipped up in Europe in the semi-finals, meaning no repeat of the treble won 12 months prior.
Enrique is on course to surpass Guardiola at the Camp Nou in terms of trophies won, making a mockery of those who wanted him out midway through that title-winning season. Enrique deserves plenty of credit for his success in Catalonia, even if he does possess three of the four best players on the planet right now. Getting the best out of his MSN forward line is a skill in itself and, one blip aside late on last season, it was a campaign full of success.
Barca are not quite the force that we would expect them to be right now, though, with 11 or 12 star names all absent tonight. Enrique has moved to strengthen his squad during the summer, bringing in Andre Gomes from Valencia in a £30m deal, Samuel Umtiti from Lyon for around £21m and Lucas Digne from Paris Saint-Germain. All three can be integrated into the starting lineup, but the latter two are still enjoying their prolonged summer break.
With just the one pre-season friendly played thus far, and those key men nowhere to be seen, it is still far too early to read into any sort of new tactics Enrique may go with this coming season. You can bet on the forward line remaining fully intact, but will the Spaniard change things around elsewhere? Time will tell on that front, but tonight gives some of the fringe players a chance to force their way into the manager's reckoning.
Barcelona pulled off a league and cup double last season in Spain, but they fell short in Europe when losing to Atletico Madrid at the semi-final stage. That did put just a little dampener on things, having gone one better and won the treble 12 months prior. No harm done for Enrique, though, who has strengthened over the summer and kept hold of his three star attacking options.
Barcelona's 3-1 win over Celtic last weekend came via goals from Arda Turan, Munir and an Efe Ambrose own goal at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin. It was a convincing enough win for the La Liga outfit, and they now have three more friendlies to come to get things spot on. Up next after tonight's meeting is a trip to London to take on Liverpool, before an annual meeting with Sampdoria on the eve of the new campaign. A double-header with Sevilla, in the European and Spanish Super Cups will act as a particularly tasty curtain-raiser for the new season.
DID YOU KNOW? Barcelona may not have faced Leicester in a competitive match before, but they have certainly had their fair share of games against English opposition in the past. In all, the Catalonia outfit have won 31, drawn 21 and lost 20 of their 72 meetings. The last of those came against Arsenal last season, of course, when Barca progressed through with a 5-2 aggregate win - condemning their opponents to another early exit in Europe.
With just under 15 minutes to go until kickoff in Stockholm, let us now turn attention to some comments from both camps.
Claudio Ranieri: "I think it's a good experience for us. PSG is a good team that is building to win the Champions League. They have a big squad with big players and for our players it was a good experience. Maybe if we had scored a goal when we had the chance at the start of the second half, maybe we can change something, but it was a good, good experience. A bad result, but I think we can improve from this defeat."
Luis Enrique: "The club knows my opinion and I have nothing to say. I've already spoken about renewals at my first press conference. I do not care at all about my renewal."
Ranieri was speaking after the defeat to PSG there, looking to take some positives away from the match. The Italian emphasised the gulf in quality in squads, taking into account the changes PSG made in the second half, and that will be key for City this season. With Champions League football to come from September, rotating players regularly is something many will have to get used to.
Enrique was answering questions about his contract situation, incidentally, something which is slowly becoming a big saga in itself. The Spaniard is often prickly in press-conferences, usually refusing to give a simple answer to questions that have justifiably been asked - much like in this instance. Either way, Enrique remains in charge for another campaign and he appears to be the best man for the job following that early hiccup in his first season.
It is probably worth pointing out at this stage the state of play as things stand in the International Champions Cup. PSG top the standings with nine points from nine, while Bayern are next in second place and Barcelona one of four teams locked on three points. Hardly the biggest of achievements for this famous club should they win their next two matches to tie PSG at the top, but a positive to take into the season nonetheless. Leicester are on two points by virtue of their penalty win over Celtic, meanwhile, and Inter bottom as the only team yet to get off the mark.
PREDICTION! A tough one to call on the face of it, this, with Leicester boasting a very strong team and Barcelona more of a mixed bag this evening. City have their key attacking talents in Mahrez and Vardy, but Barca also have two of their famed front three in Messi and Suarez. You should never write-off the Foxes, of course, but I'm going with their opponents to edge this one 3-1 over the 90 minutes.
Both sets of players have now made their way out onto the field of play, with kickoff in the Friends Arena in Stockholm around four minutes or so away. This is Leicester's final outing before the Community Shield clash with Manchester United, remember, while Barca have two more friendlies to come after tonight before a double-header with Sevilla.
Ranieri and Enrique meet in the tunnel pre-match. Can the Italian get one over on his opposite number this evening? We're about to find out...
KICKOFF! Barcelona's Lionel Messi, sporting his new look, gets us up and running in Sweden! Leicester City have played the champions of Scotland and France - now for the toughest test of the lot against the best Spain has to offer.
Busy start to the match for Leicester's two centre-backs. Morgan had to come across to the right to cut out an attack, before Huth stepped into midfield to completely clatter Suarez. A good chance for Barca to get the ball into the box from the resultant free kick.
CHANCES! Big early chance for both sides to take the lead in Stockholm. Huth headed away the free kick as far as Denis Suarez, who saw his shot parried right into the path of namesake Luis. The ex-Liverpool man could only fire over from close range, although Morgan did look to get a touch on the ball. Up the other end, Drinkwater picks out Gray who is clean through, only to sky his shot when one-on-one.
So just five minutes into the game and big chances for both already - Gray in particular guilty of missing of great opening for his side. A sign of things to come, perhaps, or the game could settle into more of a settled rhythm over the next 15 minutes or so.
SHOT! The game has gone very sloppy over the past few minutes, but Barcelona do find their groove as Messi slides in Munir down the left. The 20-year-old got his connection with the ball all wrong, though, sending it well over the bar from the angle.
Barca putting their stamp on things now as they win a free kick on the left, which is whipped in brilliantly towards the front post. Huth got his head to the ball to prevent the ball finding the bottom corner, with the Spanish side failing to make the most of the following corner.
When Demarai Gray had that big chance a few minutes in it looked like Leicester would cause their opponents plenty of problems, but it has pretty been all Barca since then. No breakthrough yet - Messi trying his best to change that before being flagged offside.
Suarez the latest to be flagged offside - just! Barca looking to slip in their front trio now when getting forward, but Leicester holding their line well enough at the moment.
Suarez again caught straying offside, which he is not happy about to say the least. City now knocking the ball around a bit more - Barca unable to score when they don't have possession and all that. Seventeen minutes played in Stockholm and just the two chances so far, both coming in quick succession early on.
Leicester completely pack out their box when Messi gets hold of the ball 20 yards out. The little magician still played a reverse ball to a teammate, with the subsequent cross being headed away by Morgan. Leicester look to counter but Mahrez can't get up the pitch fast enough.
Second chance for Leicester to break. Vardy is the man who powers forward, chipping the ball towards Mahrez only for Mathieu to calmly chest it back to Matip. Up the other end, Denis Suarez lets leash with a shot that deflects wide.
Messi clearly yet to find his range as he blasts well over the bar, but a nice piece of skill in the build-up to nutmeg Albrighton suggests that better is still to come from him this evening. Barcelona the team on top, although Leicester have had the game's best chance.
Barcelona not being given a chance to carve their opponents open at the moment, but that is nothing new. Messi was slipped in a few moments ago, though a costly when inside the box saw the ball roll straight out of play. No injury problem, just a red face.
GOAL! BARCELONA 1-0 LEICESTER CITY (MUNIR)
Barcelona edge ahead in Stockholm through Munir, who now had two in two for pre-season. Messi created the goal, threading the ball through for his teammate to latch on to, but Simpson really should have done better to block out the youngster. Munir made no mistake when through, simply slotting past Zieler.
Not quite happening for Leicester at the moment, with very little chance to counter-attack over the past 10 minutes. Barca growing more into the game in anything since that opener, but still plenty of time to go yet.
All 11 Leicester players back behind the ball when Barcelona knock the ball around defence and into midfield. A really good fitness test for each of those players and, that Munir strike aside, they have not done too badly on the whole.
SAVE! Good stop from Zieler to deny Barca a second of the match. Suarez and Munir linked up brilliantly, with the former being played through on goal, but Leicester's back-up keeper made himself big and kept the shot out.
GOAL! BARCELONA 2-0 LEICESTER CITY (LUIS SUAREZ)
Barcelona have a second goal of the evening, and it is Luis Suarez who has scored it. Messi lofted a ball over the Leicester defence for the Uruguayan to bring under control, but with two men still to beat he had it all to do from a tight angle. A nutmeg on Huth and an easy foray around Chilwell later and Suarez was able to flick the ball past the reach of Zieler.
Looked for all the world like being a third for Barcelona when Messi put his foot through the ball from range, but it ended just inches wide of the target. Leicester wanting half time right about now; a raft of Barca changes even better from their perspective!
YELLOW CARD! Denis Suarez is the first player to be shown a booking for a scything challenge on Chilwell. A little harsh from the referee, maybe, but he was warned a little earlier.
CHANCE! Well after being under the cosh for the past 20 minutes, Leicester could have had a root back into the game. Could being the key word there, because a free kick dropped perfectly five yards out, but it was Huth who was closest to it and unable to slide it home.
A very good cross from Chilwell on the run, which Vardy does well to meet around eight yards out. The ball ended fairly high over the bar, but that was as good as City have offered in the past half-hour or so. Promise for the second half!
CLOSE! Leicester's best spell of the half by quite some distance, this. Chilwell again the provider, as his cross is headed by King from a central position into the arms of Josip Matip in the Barcelona goal.
GOAL! BARCELONA 3-0 LEICESTER CITY (MUNIR)
Cruel on Leicester, as their best spell of the match - in which they probably should have pulled one back - ends with Barcelona putting the game beyond doubt. It was a quick-fire counter, ironically, as Messi charged forward and picked out Suarez on the left, who looked up and sent one over the top. Munir brought it down with one touch and flicked it past Zieler with his second. Who needs Neymar?!
HALF TIME: BARCELONA 3-0 LEICESTER CITY
Leicester heading for another battering in the International Champions Cup. Three down at the break and Barcelona look as though they have more in them if they stick with this lineup for a little while longer. Leicester certainly had their chances, though, particularly three minutes in when Drinkwater played Gray over the top for the youngster to fluff his lines when up against Matip.
That came in an explosive start to the match, as Denis Suarez saw his shot parried into the path of namesake Luis who could not get the better of a Zieler-Morgan combination a few yards out. Munir's first chance came 20 minutes in when slid in by Messi down the left, but his shot lacked the conviction required and sailed over the Leicester bar.
The youngster did get his name on the scoresheet soon after, though, much like he did in Dublin at the weekend, as he raced on to Messi's through-ball - getting the better of Simpson in the process - and tucked the ball past Zieler. The City keeper kept out Suarez five minutes later to deny Barca a second, but there was to be no stopping the Uruguayan 35 minutes in when he waltzed through two men and picked his spot.
Huth came within inches of tapping home on the brink of half time, while both Vardy and King also came close with headed attempts from Chilwell crosses, but Barcelona pushed forward and scored a fine third of the match when Suarez's lofted pass was brought down and converted by Munir with the use of just two touches. Forty-five minutes played and already game over for the Foxes.
Munir has already scored twice for Barcelona, with Luis Suarez the other player to get his name on the scoresheet in a very one-sided first half in Stockholm.
RESTART! Suarez and Messi remain on the field to the dismay of Leicester players and supporters alike, but there is news of a few changes to bring you from both sides. More on that in a minute or so when play settles down.
Morgan, Huth, Chilwell, Gray, King, Mahrez and Vardy all making way for Leicester, with Wasilewski, Hernandez, Fuchs, Mendy, Schlupp, Okazaki and Musa on in their place. Mascherano and Busquets appear to be the only two men on for Barcelona at the break.
GOAL! BARCELONA 3-1 LEICESTER CITY (AHMED MUSA)
Well that didn't take long, did it?! Musa, the record signing from CSKA Moscow, takes all of three minutes to get up and running in Stockholm. A fine got it was, too, as the Nigerian international burst forward and rounded his man before tucking the ball calmly into the bottom corner.
Will that goal change things at all? Barcelona kept Suarez and Messi on the field, but they have seen little of the ball so far. Leicester well on top since that Musa breakthrough, and now looking to bag a quickfire second.
SAVE! Nice work between Schlupp, Drinkwater and Simpson allows Schlupp to burst forward and get a shot away which is saved. This game seems certain to have a fifth goal in it, and which way it goes could well decide how the conclusion of the match pans out.
Leicester already made seven changes, so we can expect another batch to come in the next 20 minutes. Barcelona will be looking to change things around shortly, meanwhile, with just Busquets and Mascherano - both back in training for just a day - the only arrivals so far.
The fresh legs seems to have helped Leicester a fair bit, but tit must be remembered that they have done a fair bit of travelling over the past two weeks. Barca, on the other hand, flew into Sweden just this morning for this game.
Musa looking impressive again when getting forward, though his pull-back does not quite reach Schlupp who was looking to get up alongside him. A raft of Barcelona changes to come, with Samper one of those waiting patiently on the sideline.
BARCELONA SUBS! Samper and Alena are on for Messi and Turan as we enter the final half-hour at the Friends Arena. Suarez still on the pitch for now, but he will surely be replaced before the 90 minutes are up.
Leicester certainly the side on top now in a straight reversal from what we saw in the first half. You would think Barca would be the fitter side due to the travelling their opponents have had to do, but that is not the case with 27 minutes to go.
GOAL! BARCELONA 2-3 LEICESTER CITY (AHMED MUSA)
The comeback is on! Musa has his second of the match, as he belts the ball into the roof of the net after Schlupp won possession high up on the right. Barcelona being pegged back now and City certainly appear to have a third in them.
Just a case of Barca taking the sting out of the game now. Mathieu looking fatigued now as Musa chases down every last ball to win his side a corner. Plenty of noise being generated by the travelling Leicester supporters who would love to see their team pull back a third.
SAVE! Barca always look dangerous when they have the ball on the edge of the box. Busquets decides to take on the shot from range, despite going two years without a goal, and it is close to creeping in - Zieler doing very well to push it aside.
PENALTY APPEAL! Musa is not giving up anything at the moment - he'll fit in well at Leicester. His latest attempt to pressure Mascherano ends with the former Liverpool midfielder bringing his opponent down inside the box, but the referee waves play on.
CLOSE! Not the easiest of chances from Suarez from a tight left-sided angle, but he has scored a few from here before. A fine piece of interchange put him through, only for his volley to end wide of the intended target.
BARCELONA SUBS! Barcelona have made six more changes, taking both Suarez's off and giving a raft of their B-team players a 15-minutes run-out in Sweden. They have to remain alert for the remainder or else Leicester will take this to penalties.
Leicester still making chances; Okazaki coming close with his header when picked out by Fuchs. Okazaki also sent a shot over the bar a minute beforehand, so City the team bossing things in terms of attacking-third play.
Well if nothing else, this has been brilliant preparation for Leicester ahead of the new season. Their players have had to do plenty of defending and have also shown what they are capable of in attack. A late third goal would make Ranieri even happier.
We have also seen more of the title-winning Leicester side this evening compared to a few days ago against PSG when hammered 4-0. The contest has quietened down just a little since Barca broke things up with those six changes.
GOAL! BARCELONA 4-2 LEICESTER CITY (RAFA MUJICA)
Barcelona have not particularly looked like scoring in this second period, but youngster Rafa Mujica gets on the scoresheet with an impressive finish. A low cross from the left fell nicely for the youth-team player, who did not think twice when putting his foot through the ball.
A real entertaining contest in Stockholm, then, between two teams who came out on top in their respective divisions last season. Not sure how much added time we will get here but those in attendance have certainly got their money's worth!
Eight goals conceded in two games is the bad news for Ranieri, but his side have faced two of the continent's best sides, remember. Sunday's meeting with Manchester United may tell us a bit more about the Foxes on the eve of the new season.
FULL TIME: BARCELONA 4-2 LEICESTER CITY
The referee blows for full time in Stockholm, bringing to an end what was a thrilling pre-season affair. Six goals in all and plenty to keep the neutral occupied - so much for these matches just being money-making affairs!
That concludes Sports Mole's live text coverage, but an on-the-whistle report from the Friends Arena can be found by clicking here. We will have more from the International Champions Cup over the remainder of the competition, so be sure to return!
