Barcelona continued their pre-season tour of the USA with a comfortable 3-0 win over rivals Real Madrid in Arlington, Texas.
The result was harsh on Carlo Ancelotti’s squad, which hit the post five times and created numerous chances. However, Barcelona’s more clinical finishing proved to be the deciding factor.
Even though it was a preseason tune-up, AT&T Stadium, home of the NFL’s Dallas Cowboys, was packed for a game that had all the intensity and fervour of a genuine rivalry.
When Oriel Romeu struck the Real Madrid crossbar with a ferocious shot in the fourth minute, the crowd immediately erupted. However, Barca’s supporters soon began to celebrate.
Pedri sent Dembele a diagonal pass via a deftly executed free kick, and Dembele expertly drilled the ball into the far corner.
Real had a golden opportunity to tie the game five minutes later when Barcelona defender Ronald Araujo handled the ball in the penalty area, but Vinicius Junior blasted the penalty over the crossbar.
Rodrygo then forced Barcelona goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen to make a fine, full-length save with a free-kick that was headed for the top corner.
Vinicius hit the crossbar, and despite outjumping ter Stegen, Jude Bellingham’s header hit the crossbar as well.
Dembele had an opportunity for a second goal after Ferland Mendy’s error allowed him to break through on goal, but Thibuat Courtois easily handled the French forward’s weak shot.
After Frenkie de Jong’s sliding, behind-the-back challenge on Eder Militao, players from both teams tussled on the half-way line, and halftime was likely a relief for American referee Allen Chapman.
Real’s misfortune continued after halftime, as Aurelien Tchouameni fired against the crossbar and Vinicius continued to torment from the left by squeezing a shot from a tight angle just wide.
In the 85th minute, Barcelona’s substitute Fermin Lopez made it 2-0 with a brilliant shot from outside the box after being set up by Sergi Roberto. There was no let-up from either side despite multiple substitutions, but Barcelona’s finishing proved decisive.
Incredibly, after a zigzagging run in from the left, Vinicius’s shot from a tight angle again hit the crossbar, and Barca sealed the victory in stoppage time.
Ferran Torres ran onto a lofted ball from Lopez, lifted the ball over the advancing Courtois, and turned and slotted the ball into the empty net with good awareness and balance.
The coach of Barcelona, Xavi Hernandez, acknowledged that the scoreline favoured his team.
“The result could have been different, the result is a bit misleading, Madrid also had many chances and we shouldn’t be overconfident,” he said.
“The result is very favorable but it doesn’t mean we played a super match. There are many things to improve. It was a very even match in which Madrid also had many chances,” he said.
Xavi questioned whether he possessed sufficient depth for the forthcoming season.
“I think Madrid have a much bigger squad than us. At the end of the game they were taking players out and they have many players in the midfield, physical, technical, they have a wide range of possibilities,” he said.
“We tried to play and impose our game and in many moments we succeeded. I am satisfied with the way we competed and in many moments we looked like what we want to be,” he said.
Ancelotti played down the score and was pleased with a number of aspects.
“The result is the least important thing. It hurts to lose, but I’ll keep the good things we did,” said Ancelotti.
“We were good in terms of intensity, we had a lot of chances that didn’t go in. Five (against the woodwork) in a game is quite rare, I don’t think it has ever happened to me. But it’s better if it happens in pre-season,” added the Italian.
Photo by EPA/ADAM DAVIS
