In their first match since the sale of Neymar, Barcelona star Paco Alcacer produced a moment of magic to salvage a draw against Gimnastic.

Paco Alcacer scored a brilliant late free-kick as Barcelona were forced to settle for a 1-1 away draw against Gimnastic in a friendly match that saw them lose Thomas Vermaelen to injury.

Barca had impressively beaten Juventus, Manchester United and Real Madrid in the United States last month but looked to be on course for their first defeat of pre-season on Friday until Alcacer's impressive intervention after 79 minutes.

Playing in their first match since the world-record sale of Neymar to Paris Saint-Germain, head coach Ernesto Valverde named a side mainly filled with fringe players, with Andres Iniesta, Lionel Messi, Gerard Pique and Luis Suarez among the stars missing out.

Hosts Nastic, who play in the Spanish second tier, took a shock lead after 11 minutes when Manu Barreiro shot past Jasper Cillessen from a yard out after being set up by Omar Perdomo from the left.

Barca then suffered a further blow with Vermaelen forced off with yet another injury, and Marlon Santos replacing him.

Then Alcacer goes close after a great pass from Roberto.

Valverde opted to make two changes at the break bringing on Munir and Marc-Andre ter Stegen for Cillessen and Arda Turan as Barca chased an equaliser.

Alena tested goalkeeper Dimitrievski before a neat combination between Digne and Denis almost levelled it.

There were further changes as the game progressed, Jordi Alba, Douglas, André Gomes and Gerard Deulofeu arriving and the former Everton man going close but unable to convert.

Pass from Andre Gomes and a great chance for Deulofeu who almost equalises

Finally, however, Barca did level the scores, Alcacer making it 1-1 with a little over 10 minutes to go from a free kick.

Barca XI: Cillessen (Ter Stegen), Semedo (Alba), Mascherano, Vermaelen (Marlon), Digne (Douglas); Samper (Deulofeu), Sergi Roberto, Aleñá (Gomes); Arda (Munir), Denis, Alcácer.