Barcelona Triumphs Over Real Madrid In Thrilling U.S. Preseason El Clasico

Barcelona emerged victorious against arch-rivals Real Madrid, winning 2-1 in a thrilling preseason installment of El Clasico held at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford New Jersey.

Weather Delays and Early Action

The match was initially delayed by over an hour due to lightning in the area, forcing both teams to retreat to their locker rooms after just 11 minutes of play.

The weather conditions, marked by torrential rain, created a challenging atmosphere for players and fans.

However, once the storm passed and the players returned to the pitch, the action quickly resumed.

Barcelona’s Pau Victor, who has been making waves during the preseason, continued his impressive form. After netting the opening goal against Manchester City just days before, Victor demonstrated his clinical finishing ability once again.

A First-Half Breakthrough

As the rain poured down, Barcelona broke the deadlock in the 42nd minute. Following an excellent right-wing cross from the ever-impressive Álex Valle, veteran striker, Robert Lewandowski deftly redirected the ball into the path of the alert Victor. Positioned perfectly, Victor headed the ball into the net from close range, sending the Barcelona fans into jubilation.

Doubling the Lead

The second half began with just a five-minute break, and Barcelona wasted no time in extending their lead. In the 54th minute, Pau Victor struck again, displaying remarkable positioning and anticipation.

Once more, Valle provided the assist with a precise cross, and Victor, demonstrating his aerial quality, managed to stretch and redirect the ball past Real Madrid’s goalkeeper, Thibaut Courtois, doubling Barcelona’s advantage.

Madrid Fights Back

Real Madrid, boosted by the return of star winger, Vinícius Júnior, began to find their rhythm as the match progressed. With just eight minutes remaining, they pulled one back when Nico Paz capitalized on a lapse in Barcelona’s defense.

Paz headed in a well-placed corner from Arda Güler, igniting hopes of a comeback for Los Blancos.

Despite the late surge from Madrid, Barcelona held firm, successfully navigating the final minutes to secure a 2-1 victory. This win marked Barcelona’s fourth consecutive triumph in El Clasico matches played on U.S. soil, sending a strong message as they prepare for the upcoming La Liga season.

Star Absences and Future Matches

Both teams were missing several key players due to their participation in summer international tournaments.

Barcelona has yet to welcome back Euro 2024 winners Lamine Yamal and Ferran Torres, while injuries kept Ronald Araújo, Pedri, Gavi, Frenkie de Jong, and Ansu Fati off the trip to the U.S. For Real Madrid, the highly anticipated debut of Kylian Mbappé remains on hold, with fellow star Jude Bellingham also absent from this clash.

As both teams prepare to conclude their U.S. tours, Barcelona will face AC Milan in Baltimore, while Real Madrid will take on Chelsea in Charlotte on Friday.

With the La Liga season set to kick off in just two weeks, fans eagerly await the return of their favorite stars and the unfolding of what promises to be an exhilarating season.