{"id":2010,"date":"2024-07-31T22:50:56","date_gmt":"2024-07-31T22:50:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/usdailys.com\/?p=2010"},"modified":"2024-07-31T22:52:28","modified_gmt":"2024-07-31T22:52:28","slug":"manchester-city-vs-barcelona-preseason-friendly-final-score-2-2-barca-win-preseason-opener-on-penalties","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/usdailys.com\/?p=2010","title":{"rendered":"Manchester City vs Barcelona, Preseason Friendly: Final Score 2-2, Bar\u00e7a win preseason opener on penalties"},"content":{"rendered":"

Barcelona\u2019s preparations for the 2024-25 season got off to a winning start thanks to a 4-1 victory on penalties over Pep Guardiola\u2019s Manchester City after a 2-2 draw in regulation in the opening match of their preseason tour of the United States. After a storm delayed the kickoff by over an hour the two teams put on a fun exhibition in Orlando, and Bar\u00e7a took their first steps under Hansi Flick with an intense, energetic display filled with impressive performances by a very young\u00a0Blaugrana<\/em>\u00a0side.<\/p>\n

FIRST HALF<\/strong><\/p>\n

City had most of the ball as usual to start the game, and created some good chances early on with Erling Haaland and Jack Grealish both forcing I\u00f1aki Pe\u00f1a into some big saves in the opening minutes.<\/p>\n

Bar\u00e7a absorbed the pressure and mostly stayed in a mid-block looking for opportunities to win the ball in midfield to counter-attack quickly, but they also had their moments in possession and moved the ball well between the lines thanks to the very productive double pivot of Marc Casad\u00f3 and Marc Bernal, who connected defense and attack well with their progressive passing and quick decision-making.<\/p>\n

And it was Casad\u00f3 who was at the heart of the first goal with a gorgeous assist to put Pau V\u00edctor one-on-one with Ederson and give Bar\u00e7a the lead. Bar\u00e7a sat back after scoring and City dominated the ball at the end of the half, and Nico O\u2019Reilly finally broke the deadlock after a great assist from Josko Gvardiol.<\/p>\n

But the Catalans were not done and continued to press with intensity and energy, and were rewarded with a second goal thanks to a brilliant dummy by Pau V\u00edctor that froze the entire City defense and gave Pablo Torre plenty of time and space to find the bottom corner and put Bar\u00e7a ahead just before the break.<\/p>\n

The halftime whistle came to end a fun opening period, with a young and hungry Bar\u00e7a side playing well as a team and taking the lead into the interval.<\/p>\n

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SECOND HALF<\/strong><\/p>\n

Both coaches kept most of their starters to begin the second half, and City continued to have more of the ball as they searched for an equalizer while Bar\u00e7a were happy to sit back and try to create trouble on the counter.<\/p>\n

Pau V\u00edctor almost scored his second of the night but Stefan Ortega made an excellent save, and the\u00a0Blaugrana<\/em>\u00a0looked dangerous every time they won the ball back high up the pitch. But a few changes at the back also meant they were more vulnerable, and that led to a second City goal as Mateo Kovacic was allowed to go on a one-man counter-attack and find Jack Grealish for the Blues\u2019 second equalizer on the night.<\/p>\n

Then came the usual sea of changes for both sides at the hour mark, with even more Bar\u00e7a youngsters getting a run while Robert Lewandowski also made his preseason debut. Flick made a few more changes with 15 minutes to go, including the return of Alejandro Balde after almost six months away.<\/p>\n

The game lost its momentum thanks to the substitutions, but the pace picked up again and things started to get a little more physical as we reached the final 10 minutes. Bar\u00e7a had a big chance to win it at the end when Noah Darvich played Lewandowski through on goal, but the Pole was blocked at the last second by Callum Doyle inside the box.<\/p>\n

The final whistle came shorty after, but there was still a penalty shootout to decide the winner. Bar\u00e7a won the shootout 4-1 thanks to two saves by reserve keeper Ander Astralaga, with all four Bar\u00e7a takers converting their spot kicks and Toni Fern\u00e1ndez scoring the decisive penalty.<\/p>\n

That was a fun way to end an entertaining start to preseason for Bar\u00e7a, who played with a lot of energy and intensity for most of the night as we\u2019ve come to expect from Hansi Flick\u2019s teams.<\/p>\n

Youngsters like Casad\u00f3, Bernal and V\u00edctor will get the headlines, but the structure and organization out of possession was also noteworthy. Bar\u00e7a looked well-coached, with high fitness levels and great dedication without the ball. It\u2019s a solid start, one that Hansi Flick can be happy about while still knowing there\u2019s a lot of work to do.<\/p>\n