gallery
Barça in Malaysia
11 Aug 2013 — Arguably the best football team in the world, FC Barcelona wrapped up their 2013 Asian Tour with a match against the Malaysian XI at Shah Alam Stadium. The Catalans last visited Asia -- home to a massive fan base and huge potential revenue in sponsorship -- three years ago. Barcelona arrived in Kuala Lumpur on Thursday August 8, after visiting Thailand as part of an Asian tour. They begin their La Liga defence on August 18. Fans will surely savour this chance to see the World Player of The Year for the fourth year running in the flesh, Lionel Messi and World Cup and European Champions Xavi, Iniesta, Fabregas and co.
Barcelona football team pose for photograph before their friendly match against Malaysia XI at Shah Alam Stadium, August 10, 2013. The Malaysian Insider / Afif Abd Halim
Barcelona's Lionel Messi spits water during his training session at National Stadium in Kuala Lumpur, August 9, 2013. The Malaysian Insider / Afif Abd Halim
Barcelona's players toying around during their training session ahead of their match against Malaysian XI at National Stadium in Kuala Lumpur, August 9, 2013
"Hands of son" doesn't quite have the same reasonance as "Hand of God", but that's unlikely to bother Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi. A tattoo, scribed his four-month old son's name complete with a set of hands is seen on Messi's left leg during a training session at National Stadium in Kuala Lumpur August 9, 2013. The Malaysian Insider / Afif Abd Halim
Barcelona football player Alex Song drinks from a bottle during a training session at the National Stadium in Kuala Lumpur August 9, 2013. The Malaysian Insider / Najjua Zulkefli
A fan holds a placard reads "Iniesta, please gives me your shirt" as she watches Barcelona team training at National Stadium in Kuala Lumpur, August 9, 2013. The Malaysian Insider / Afif Abd Halim
Barcelona's Lionel Messi is escorted to the bench before the friendly match against Malaysian XI at Shah Alam Stadium August 10, 2013. The Malaysian Insider / Afif Abd Halim
Malaysia's Wan Zack Haikal (L) shields the ball away from Barcelona's Neymar during their friendly football match at the Shah Alam Stadium, August 10, 2013. The Malaysian Insider / Najjua Zulkefli
Barcelona's Jonathan Dos Santos races for the ball with Malaysia's Christie Jayaseelan during their friendly football match at the Shah Alam Stadium, August 10, 2013. The Malaysian Insider / Afif Abd Halim
Barcelona's Gerard Pique (L) celebrates with teammates after scoring against Malaysia XI during their friendly football match at the Shah Alam Stadium, August 10, 2013. The Malaysian Insider / Afif Abd Halim
Barcelona supporters shouts after their team score against Malaysia XI during the friendly match at Shah Alam Stadium, August 10, 2013. The Malaysian Insider / Afif Abd Halim
Barcelona's goalkeeper Jose Manuel Pinto plays with the ball prior to a friendly football match against Malaysia at the Shah Alam Stadium, August 10, 2013. The Malaysian Insider / Najjua Zulkefli
Malaysian players celebrate scoring their goal against Barcelona during their friendly match at Shah Alam Stadium, August 10, 2013. The Malaysian Insider / Afif Abd Halim
Barcelona's manager Gerardo Martino reacts during a friendly football match against Malaysia at the Shah Alam Stadium in Shah Alam, August 10, 2013. The Malaysian Insider / Najjua Zulkefli
Malaysia's Mahalli Jasuli (C) tries to get througn Barcelona's Neymar (R) during their friendly football match at the Shah Alam Stadium, August 10, 2013. The Malaysian Insider / Najjua Zulkefli
A football fan holds aloft the replica of World Cup during Barcelona friendly match Malaysia at Shah Alam Stadium, August 10, 2013. The Malaysian Insider / Afif Abd Halim
Barcelona's Adriano (R) tries to get past Malaysia's Nik Mohd Shahrul Azim during their friendly football match at the Shah Alam Stadium, August 10, 2013. The Malaysian Insider / Afif Abd Halim.
Malaysia's Amri Yahyah shoots toward the goal as Barcelona's Dani Alves tries to block during their friendly football match at the Shah Alam Stadium, August 10, 2013. The Malaysian Insider / Afif Abd Halim
Malaysian football team pose for photograph before their friendly match against Barcelona at Shah Alam Stadium, August 10, 2013. The Malaysian Insider / Najjua Zulkefli
Please note that you must sign up with disqus.com before commenting. And, please refrain from comments of a racist, sexist, personal, vulgar or derogatory nature and note that comments can be edited, rewritten for clarity or to avoid questionable issues. As comments are moderated, they may not appear immediately or even on the same day you posted them. We also reserve the right to delete off-topic comments