Real Madrid, Barcelona set for US summer friendly in Dallas: when will the Clásico be played?

Real Madrid and Barcelona are set for another pre-season friendly in the United States this summer, as part of their planned American tours.

Clásico in Dallas at the end of July

The LaLiga giants’ huge popularity in the US has led organisers to again seek to stage a Clásico in the country, in what would be the arch rivals’ third meeting so far this century in the States. The venue for the clash is expected to be the 92,000-capacity Cotton Bowl in Dallas, Texas.

AS understands that the only major step left in the process of arranging the match is to confirm a date, although all the indications are that it will be played on 29 July.

Madrid and Barça’s previous US friendlies

Last year, Madrid and Barça both returned to the US for pre-season tours, after a two-year hiatus caused by the covid-19 pandemic. On 24 July, the clubs faced off at Las Vegas’ Allegiant Stadium, where a chiefly Madrid-supporting crowd saw Barça win 1-0 thanks to a goal by Raphinha.

Los Blancos then faced Club América in San Francisco and Juventus in Los Angeles, while Barça also took on Inter Miami in Miami, Juve in Dallas and New York Red Bulls in Harrison.

There was also a Stateside Clásico in 2017, with Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium the venue. Barça were victorious in that match-up, too, winning 3-2 thanks to strikes by Lionel Messi, Ivan Rakitic and Gerard Piqué. Mateo Kovacic and Marco Asensio were on target for Madrid.

The impressive atmosphere that the Clásico generated at the 65,000-capacity Hard Rock Stadium was key to persuading organisers to take the high-profile fixture to the US again.

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When OJ chase overshadowed Spain World Cup opener

The Cotton Bowl, which was expanded from its previous 68,000 capacity in 2008, is the stadium where Spain played their first game at the 1994 World Cup, La Roja drawing 2-2 with South Korea after throwing away a two-goal lead.

However, what was most memorable about that match was the fact that, in the stands, fans were distracted by a spectacular highway chase unfolding in California, as former NFL star OJ Simpson fled police. Simpson, who was later acquitted by an LA jury, had been accused of murdering his ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and her friend Ron Goldman.