In a thrilling pre-season El Clásico, Barcelona emerged victorious with a 2-1 win over Real Madrid at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, USA. The match, part of both teams’ preparations for the 2024-2025 season, was dramatically interrupted for over an hour due to a severe thunderstorm, resuming at 20:30 local time.The star of the match was Barcelona’s 22-year-old Pau Víctor, a former reserve team player, who netted both goals for his side. Víctor’s first goal came in the 42nd minute, capitalizing on a loose ball in the penalty area after an assist from Robert Lewandowski. He doubled Barcelona’s lead in the 54th minute with a well-placed shot following a pass from Álex Valle.Real Madrid, despite maintaining control in possession for much of the game, struggled to convert their chances. They did manage to pull one back through Nico Paz in the 82nd minute, but it wasn’t enough to change the outcome.This victory marks Barcelona’s fourth consecutive win in their US tour, following triumphs against Manchester City, Atlético Madrid, and Dallas. It also represents new coach Hansi Flick’s first win in a Clásico match. Flick expressed satisfaction with the team’s performance, stating, ‘The team showed great personality and depth. We’re happy with the result and the performance of our players’.The match highlighted Barcelona’s strategy of relying on young talents to bridge the gap with their rivals, as Real Madrid has managed to remain one of Europe’s most financially robust clubs. As the pre-season continues, both teams are set to face other European giants, with Real Madrid playing Chelsea and Barcelona taking on AC Milan in their next fixtures.
Key points
- Barcelona defeated Real Madrid 2-1 in a pre-season friendly at MetLife Stadium.
- The match was interrupted for over an hour due to a severe thunderstorm.
- Pau Víctor, a 22-year-old former Barcelona reserve player, scored both goals for Barcelona.
- This victory marks Barcelona’s fourth consecutive win in their US tour and new coach Hansi Flick’s first Clásico win.
Contradictions👾There are minor discrepancies in the reported goal times across sources, with some citing the 41st minute for the first goal while others report the 42nd minute.
👾One source incorrectly reported the final score as 2-1 to Real Madrid, contradicting all other sources.
