Real Madrid 2-3 Barcelona El Clásico Miami: Full time score, result, match report
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Real Madrid 2-3 Barcelona: match report
The first Clásico in 35 years not on Spanish turf did not disappoint as we saw four goals in the first half and just the one in the second with plenty of chances and a mixture of poor finishing, poor luck and excellent goalkeeping the reason for that.
The game started in a strange fashion as Neymar went down and grabbed his ankle in the first minute. It wasn't clear as to whether he would continue and it wasn't clear as to how he hurt himself either.
In the end he managed to get back on the field and just as he did, after four minutes, Messi gave Barcelona the lead with a deflected shot off Raphael Varane.
Just minutes later, Barcelona were in again and Ivan Rakitic doubled their lead with a rasper on seven minutes. We hadn't played 10 minutes and Barcelona had two goals and barely given Real Madrid a touch.
The reigning Liga and Champions League winners were not set to be embarrassed regardless of the authenticity of a preseason friendly Clásico. After 14 minutes, Mateo Kovacic made a strong run towards goal and drove low and beyond Jasper Cillessen after seeing off a couple of tackles and Real Madrid had finally settled down after a shaky start.
They had their second goal on 36 minutes when Real Madrid broke from a corner and Marco Asensio, the architect of the counter, wound up finishing it too. Jordi Alba misread the ball's path and Asensio waited patiently for it to roll to him before he stroked past Cillessen. It was 2-2 and there were plenty more chances in between the goals as neither team seemed too intent on defending as rigidly as they might in an official game. The fans didn't seem to mind.
The second half was just five minutes old when Neymar put a free onto the instep of Piqué's foot and he finished with ease to help Barcelona sneak their head back in front again. 3-2.
Neymar had his own chance but missed a one-on-one with Navas without hitting the target and just minutes later drove a shot over from a decent position.
There were countless more attacks and chances with Cillessen making an excellent save from Isco on one occassion and then from Isco yet again as he bent it around the post with his fingertips. But we didn't see anymore goals, which seemed like a miracle as Barcelona claimed bragging rights in the first Clásico of the season.
With the preseason over for Real Madrid and Barcelona, attention now turns to the European Supercup for the former and the Spanish Supercup for the latter. If this game is anything to go by, and it probably isn't, we might be in for some hot and heavy clásicos this season.
Real Madrid vs Barcelona live stream online: El Clásico Miami latest news
Real Madrid-Barcelona: Live online International Champions Cup, live preview
The first ever Clásico on U.S soil takes place in Miami, Florida on Saturday night or Sunday morning depending on where you're tuning in from. At the home of the Hard Rock Stadium, there are sure to be some hard knocks as we start off a triplet of Real Madrid versus Barcelona clashes with the Spanish Super Cup to come.
On the same field where Dan Marino regularly threw touchdowns, Messi, Bale, Suarez and Benzema will be looking to bag a few goals in what is the first Clásico outside of Spain in 35 years.
Real Madrid: International Champions Cup
Cristiano Ronaldo is out as he enjoys a prolonged vacation after the birth of twins and leading Portugal to a Confederations Cup semi-final in June but Sergio Ramos is back after missing Real Madrid's first two games with a mysterious ear injury. Meanwhile, Dani Ceballos trained with the team after showing signs of limping after the Manchester City defeat.Toni Kroos limped out of training with an ankle knock but assured fans he would be fine in a "few days" although it is unclear as to whether Zinedine Zidane will risk him for El Clásico with a European Super Cup just over a week away followed by two more Clásicos and that's before the season even starts.
Luismi Quezada, Franchu, Manu Hernando and Dani Gómez have all left the United States to join back up wth Real Madrid Castilla's side, which gives Zidane less options and suggests he is ready to play his starters for longer than he has in previous games this preseason.
Barcelona: International Champions Cup
There has been a logjam with Neymar news and speculation ever since reports surfaced that the Brazilian was wanted by, and possibly wanted, PSG. From brushing it off, to assuring everyone that Neymar would remain at the club to accepting they had a Neymar issue to Friday's petulance that saw the player clash with new signing Nelson Semedo before storming off launching footballs out of his path as he left, Barcelona look poised to lose Lionel Messi's heir.
Regardless of business and transfer matters, the one thing Barcelona continue to do well is what's most important, and that is playing football. They were sublime at times against Manchester United and proved efficient on the counter. If it wasn't for United's superman between the posts, David de Gea, they might have led 5-0 at the break before Ernesto Valverde hauled his stars off for their understudies at half-time.
It is as you were for Barcelona under Valverde, with the only real change being Jasper Cillessen deputising in the absence of Marc Andre Ter Stegen in goals. Sergi Roberto did not train on Thursday and sat out with an abductor strain after failing to finish the game during the week against Manchester United.
Meanwhile, Semedo, the antagonist on Friday has settled in nicely and has featured at right-back and most likely will start on Saturday night. The midfield remains the same with Denis Suárez, Sergi Samper and Carles Aleña poking around for playing time in the hope of becoming more prominent in their new gaffer's plans.
Real Madrid vs Barcelona live stream online | betting odds
This game may still form part of the pre-season preparations but neither side will want to lose this one. Who do you think will have the early bragging rights? You can back Madrid at 2/1 or Barça at 6/4 at the time of writing.
