Real Madrid 0-1 Barcelona summary: score, goal, highlights, Las Vegas Clásico
Real Madrid 0-1 Barcelona: Clásico as it happened
Real Madrid vs Barcelona: headlines
- Raphinha scores first-half winner for Barcelona with thumping strike
- Real Madrid sub Asensio spurns good chance to equalise after the break
- Courtois saves from Kessié, Dembélé to deny Barça a second
- Lewandowski makes first appearance for Blaugrana
- Maiden Madrid run-outs for Rüdiger and Tchouaméni
AS honorary president Alfredo Relaño offers his thoughts on Barcelona's win over Real Madrid in Las Vegas.
AS' Carlos Forjanes rates each Real Madrid player's performance at Allegiant Stadium, reserving particular praise for goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois and particular criticism for centre-backs Éder Militão and David Alaba.
Peeep peeep peeeep! Raphinha's first-half ripsnorter is the difference between the teams. Having been second-best in the first half, Madrid enjoyed more of the play after the break, but Barcelona take the spoils in the Clásico in Las Vegas.
The Blaugrana very clearly benefited from having already played once this preseason; particularly in the opening 45, they were much sharper.
It proved to be an eminently watchable game, if slightly preseason-y in the second half - there were 21 substitutions, after all.
Madrid now face Club América in their second summer warm-up in San Francisco on Tuesday, while Barça take on Juventus in Dallas on the same day.
Dest pushes forward from the right and shoots with his left, forcing another decent stop from Courtois.
Back come Barça. Dembélé jinks his way into space to strike from the top of the box, but it's deflected wide. The corner is worked to Kessié, who tries to wriggle himself into a yard or two to shoot inside the area, but is crowded out.
Mariano should do better! Ceballos' intelligent first-time pass releases Asensio into crossing space on the left. He whips a ball into the area, finding Mariano's run towards the penalty spot, but the striker doesn't get a proper connection on it and directs his header well wide!
Two minutes of time added on.
Again Courtois saves from Dembélé! The winger works himself a yard of space to shoot on the right-hand side of the penalty box, but Courtois gets down quickly to get a firm hand to it. His parry falls right to Depay on the other side of the area, but his first touch is sloppy, and he can't capitalise.
Well, it's mostly Madrid ball, but it's Barcelona who have just gone close to scoring. Kessié leads a quick counter-attack, advancing towards the edge of the box before slipping Dembélé into the 18-yard area. The Frenchman gets a fair amount of welly on his shot, but Courtois gets a hand to it and diverts it over the bar!
It's mostly Madrid ball now. Other than that Asensio opportunity on the hour mark, the European champions haven't created a whole lot, though.
Hmmm. Ceballos should probably shoot there. Modric plays the ball across the top of the box to the Spaniard, who opts to let it run through his legs with Asensio arriving behind him. Asensio is there just a moment too late, however, and the chance is lost.
Madrid keep it for a good couple of minutes, Asensio, Kroos and Modric combining neatly just inside the Barcelona half. Finally, Modric looks up and pings a diagonal ball into the box in search of Ceballos' run forward, but the pass is just overhit, and runs out for a goal-kick.
Mariano drives towards the left-hand byline and pings a cross towards the far post, where Asensio is waiting. Piqué is there to cut it out, however. A moment later, Odriozola gets into crossing space on the opposite wing, but he, too, is unable to locate someone in a white shirt.
A minute or two ago, Kessié was booked for a foul on Casemiro just before that Ceballos penalty shout.
Casemiro shoves Depay over on the left wing, and Barça are awarded a free-kick in a promising position. Casemiro does his best who-sir-me-sir expression of innocence, but he knows what he's done.
When the dead ball is sent into the Madrid box, Piqué nods it down at the back post - but Nico can't bring it under his spell, and the chance is lost!
Ceballos flops to the floor under Nico's challenge in the Barcelona box, but the referee waves away Madrid's appeals for a penalty.
Great chance for Kessié to double Barcelona's lead! Nico feeds it forward to Sergi Roberto, who looks up and threads a pass into the run of the Ivorian, who has found a pocket of space in between the Madrid centre-backs. He carries it into the area, but scuffs his shot. Courtois is down to grab hold fairly easily. Kessié really should do better.
More substitutions. Madrid make a triple change, bringing on Álvaro Odriozola, Dani Ceballos and Mariano Díaz for Vázquez, Rodrygo and Vinícius.
Of the 22 starters in Las Vegas, only Courtois remains on the field.
Depay delivers a right-wing corner right onto Sergi Roberto's head, but the substitute nods over.
Lucas Vázquez miscontrols just outside his own box, loses it to Depay and brings the Dutchman down. Vázquez is booked, and Barcelona have a very inviting free-kick on the corner of the Madrid area.
Depay it is who takes, laying it off for Balde to shoot. His effort gets a touch off a Madrid boot on its way through to Courtois' goal, and that deflection takes it wide.
Piqué is being booed every time he touches the ball, by the way.
Some more substitutions to tell you about.
Jesús Vallejo is on for Real Madrid, replacing Militao.
Barcelona make another five changes, meaning none of their starters are on the field any longer. Ter Stegen, García, Araújo, Busquets, Pedri and Raphinha are off for Iñaki Peña, Gerard Piqué, Sergiño Dest, Sergi Roberto, Nico González and Memphis Depay.
Asensio should equalise! He exchanges passes with the overlapping Vázquez, who lays it off for the substitute to shoot from 10 yards. He skews it past the far post, however!
Helped, unsurprisingly, by the presence of Modric and Kroos, Madrid are enjoying a bit more of the possession in this second half.
De Jong is partnering Araújo at centre-back, incidentally.
The pace has definitely dropped in the second half.
Busquets is booked after catching Modric with a late, high challenge. Again there are a few frank exchanges of opinions; it's unusual to see players care this much about a preseason games - but, clearly, this is no ordinary preseason game.
Madrid enjoy their first period of prolonged possession in the Barcelona half, and Vinícius draws a foul from Araújo some 10 yards outside the Blaugrana box. Toni Kroos will take the free-kick... but he bends it a yard or two past Ter Stegen's post.
Hazard, Tchouaméni, Camavinga, Valverde, Alaba and Rüdiger are the Madrid players who were withdrawn at half time, by the way.
Barcelona have again started on the front foot. There was an early headed chance for Aubameyang a couple of minutes ago, but he nodded wide. Now, Dembélé gets forward on the right and clips a ball into the box towards the penalty spot, but Real Madrid clear.
As for Real Madrid, they've made six changes. Nacho, Ferland Mendy, Casemiro, Toni Kroos, Luka Modric and Marco Asensio are all on for Carlo Ancelotti's side. Bear with me, I'll confirm who they're on for in a mo.
Barcelona have brought on Ousmane Dembélé, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Franck Kessié, Álex Balde and Frenkie de Jong for Ansu Fati, Lewandowski, Christensen, Jordi Alba and Gavi.
Peeeep! We're back underway at Allegiant Stadium.
There are quite a few half-time substitutions to tell you about. Stand by...
Video: Raphinha goal
Here is that first-half Raphinha goal:
Peeep peeep peeep! That's half time at Allegiant Stadium. Barcelona have been the better side, and deservedly lead through Raphinha's 25-yard pearler. Madrid seemed to be finding their rhythm in the closing stages of that first half, though.
Alba was booked for that challenge. Mr Allatin doesn't seem to have taken any action against anyone for that scuffle.
After all that, Madrid have a dangerous free-kick in shooting range - but Alaba thuds it well over the bar.
One minute of time added on in Nevada.
Well, well, well, suddenly it's all kicking off. Vinícius leads a quick Real Madrid break, charging over the halfway line and towards the Barça box. Busquets tries to bring him down and fails, before Alba succeeds in felling the Brazilian, some 25 yards out from goal. Vinícius is less than impressed with Barça's er, streetwise behaviour, and there is a little bit of a melée.
There's a shooting chance for Valverde, but his outside-of-the-boot strike drifts wide. Camavinga lifts it forward to Vinícius on the left. He's partially dispossessed, but it runs to Hazard, who toes it on to Valverde. 'El Pájarito' curls just off target, though.
Gavi scampers forward before feeding the ball right to Raphinha. He cuts inside onto his left and whips an inswinger into the box, but it's too close to Courtois.
I guess we shouldn't be surprised that Barça look sharper than Madrid, given they've played once already this preseason.
For the first time this evening, really, Real Madrid get Vinícius on the ball and in space to run at his man. Receiving the ball on the right, he bustles into the Barça box and shoots, but it's blocked by Araújo. Vinícius took an ill-advised last touch that essentially took him right onto Araújo's toes; the Uruguayan almost couldn't fail to get in the way of the shot.
Andreas Christensen earns himself the first yellow card of the night, after bringing down Hazard.
Can Real Madrid offer up an immediate response? Lucas Vázquez gets to the byline and delivers a cross from the right, but it's headed clear and, suddenly, Araújo is charging forward down the right for Barça.
He shows Rüdiger a clean pair of heels before crossing - but his ball is just too long for Ansu Fati.
Barça recycle it, however, and get Raphinha back on the ball. He makes a beeline for the byline, before cutting it back to Lewandowski, who's in acres of space on the penalty spot... but Alaba blocks! What a crucial intervention from the Austrian. That was probably 2-0 otherwise.
Goal! Raphinha gets himself on the scoresheet once more, and it's a peach!
Barcelona have carried almost all of the initiative in this first half hour or so, and take a deserved lead. Militao gets himself in a muddle on the edge of the Madrid box, and the ball falls to Raphinha.
He takes one touch to steady himself, before fizzing a shot into Courtois' top left-hand corner. The Belgian ain't stopping that one. What a start Raphinha has made to his Barça career.
Rüdiger shoots wide! Camavinga plays the ball left to the German, who gets his head down and barrels towards the Barça box. He cuts inside onto his favoured right and lets fly, but his effort flashes a good couple of yards past Ter Stegen's left-hand post.
Raphinha delivers a free-kick from the right wing, almost from the corner, but Tchouaméni heads clear.
This is Hazard's first ever Real Madrid appearance against Barcelona, incidentally.
What a chance for Ansu Fati! Having been inches from going behind, Barcelona are now inches from going ahead. Camavinga gets himself into a terrible tangle inside his own box, and has his pocket picked by Gavi.
Gavi plays it straight to Fati, who's in plenty of space just to the left of the penalty spot. But he drags his shot across goal and wide!
It's been a very lively start to this game; it's being played with far more verve than you usually see in preseason.
Valverde hits the post! It's been all Barcelona, but Real Madrid come the closest to opening the scoring. Alba's clearance is straight to the Uruguayan, some 20 yards or so out from goal. He chests it down and utterly wallops the bouncing ball towards Ter Stegen's goal - but it bounces back off the upright!
Moments earlier, Lewandowski had a golden opportunity to slip Raphinha into acres of space on the right-hand side of the Madrid box, but couldn't find the Brazilian with his backheel.
Finally, Madrid make their first forward incursion of any real substance. Vinícius controls on the edge of the box and slips the ball into the path of the overlapping Rüdiger. It's an eminently promising crossing position for the former Chelsea man, but his low ball across goal is cut out, and García gets it clear.
There's the first shot of the night! Lewandowski spins away from Alaba on the halfway line and, in the blink of an eye, is scampering forward towards the Madrid penalty box. Militao is quickly across to close the angle, and when Lewandowski pulls the trigger from the right-hand side of the box, Courtois parries it behind.
There are what sounds rather like olés from the Barcelona fans in the stadium as the Blaugrana knock it about just inside the Madrid half. Er, OK then.
It's fed out wide to the right to Raphinha, who has another chance to take on Rüdiger. The German thoroughly gets the better of him, though, and shepherds the ball behind for a goal-kick.
It's pretty much all been Barcelona ball so far, albeit they haven't truly threatened yet. It's chipped forward to Lewandowski on the edge of the Real Madrid box, but he is beaten to it by his former team-mate Alaba, and Courtois gathers.
A moment later, Barça work it to Ansu Fati just inside the Madrid half, in space to run at Los Blancos' defence. It's good work from Lucas Vázquez, though - he gets back to dispossess the young forward, and the danger is snuffed out.
We're only three and half minutes or so in, but Madrid haven't been out of their half yet. Having got Raphinha running at Rüdiger a minute or so ago, now Barcelona work it left to Ansu Fati to take on his man. The decibels rise inside Allegiant Stadium, but Fati's ball into the box is cut out.
Antonio Rüdiger, not David Alaba, is playing at left-back for Real Madrid. Alaba partners Éder Militao at the heart of the backline.
Barcelona are the first team to launch an attack of any note, getting Raphinha on the ball on the right wing. He skips past Rüdiger and to the byline, but his cut-back towards Robert Lewandowski is blocked.
Peeeeep! The Clásico is up and running!
Out come the teams!
The teams are out at Allegiant Stadium. It's noisy.
The match referee will be American Mark Allatin, by the way.
Almost time for kick-off!
As is the Americans' wont, the game isn't actually going to start on the hour, but a few minutes after. 8:06pm PT/11:06pm ET, to be precise.
It's a full house inside the 65,000-capacity Allegiant Stadium, which is normally home to NFL franchise the Las Vegas Raiders.
It's due to host the Super Bowl in two years' time - and, by the way, Real Madrid president Florentino Pérez appears to be eyeing the NFL championship game for the Bernabéu.
AS' Carlos Forjanes has the full story
(Photo by Frederic J. BROWN / AFP)
"What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas"
In case you missed it, this was Barcelona president Joan Laporta's cheeky message to Real Madrid ahead of today's clash in Sin City.
He's got form in this department, of course, having hung a huge banner reading "looking forward to seeing you again" near the Bernabéu during Barça's presidential elections in 2021.
See also: "What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas": Laporta ribs Real ahead of Clásico
Some more pre-match reading for you, also courtesy of my colleague Calum Roche. Why do we call this fixture El Clásico?
Here's some more Clásico history for you. AS USA's Calum Roche takes a look at the highest-scoring clashes between Real Madrid and Barcelona, and explores some of the other entries in the fixture's record books.
Third ever overseas Clásico
This will be the third time that Real Madrid and Barcelona have faced off outside of Spain, and their second meeting on US soil. So far, both foreign Clásicos have ended 3-2.
In summer 2017, Barça won in a preseason clash at Miami's Hard Rock Stadium, with Lionel Messi, Ivan Rakitic and Gerard Piqué scoring for a side then coached by Ernesto Valverde. Neymar played that day for Barça, shortly before hotfooting it to Paris Saint-Germain.
The other Clásico held beyond Spain's borders was the sides' only competitive overseas meeting to date, in the semi-finals Spanish Super Cup in Saudi Arabia in January. Federico Valverde's extra-time winner sent Madrid into the final, where they beat Athletic Club.
Awesome Allegiant
Gotta hand it to the Americans, they don't half build some decent stadiums.
Warm-ups underway
The warm-ups are in full swing at Allegiant Stadium. Just over half an hour to go until kick-off in Las Vegas.
Ancelotti plays it safe with Benzema
A reminder that Real Madrid boss Ancelotti has opted against risking Benzema in the Clásico, as the Frenchman only joined up with Los Blancos' preseason preparations on Wednesday.
He has stayed behind at Madrid's US base in LA, and is expected to get his first game time of the preseason period against Club América in San Francisco on Tuesday.
Dani Carvajal is also misses out on today's Clásico, having picked up an injury in training.
(Photo: Antonio Villalba/Real Madrid via Getty Images)
Hazard at false nine for Real Madrid
As for Real Madrid, the headline is that it looks very much like Eden Hazard will be pressed into service as a false nine in the absence of Karim Benzema. Looking forward to seeing that.
In all, there are five survivors from May’s Champions League final, as Carlo Ancelotti gives summer signings Antonio Rüdiger and Aurelien Tchouaméni their first run-outs for Madrid.
Tchouaméni lines up in a young, energetic midfield alongside Eduardo Camavinga and Fede Valverde. Lucas Vázquez skippers the side.
Lewandowski starts!
The major team news in Las Vegas is that Robert Lewandowski starts for Barcelona, after completing his move from Bayern Munich this week.
Lewandowski comes into the Barça line-up as one of five changes from Tuesday’s thrashing of Inter Miami. Ronaldo Araújo, Jordi Alba, Sergio Busquets and Gavi are also in, with Sergiño Dest, Álex Balde, Nico González, Franck Kessié and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang dropping to the bench.
Unless I'm very much mistaken, Araújo will be at right-back, with new boy Andreas Christensen partnering Eric García in central defence.
Gerard Piqué, who has been battling a groin injury, is only fit enough to start among the substitutes.
Barcelona team news
And Barcelona's has now also dropped, as the cool kids say.
Xavi Hernández goes with: Ter Stegen, Araújo, Christensen, García, Alba, Busquets, Pedri, Gavi, Raphinha, Lewandowski, Ansu Fati
Real Madrid team news
Real Madrid's team is in!
It is: Courtois, Lucas Vázquez, Militão, Rüdiger, Alaba, Camavinga, Tchouaméni, Valverde, Rodrygo, Hazard, Vinícius
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If you're wondering how you can tune in to the Las Vegas Clásico online or on TV, my colleagues Andy Hall and Calum Roche have put together a guide answering that very question.
Las Vegas Clásico: welcome
Hello! Welcome to our live coverage of Real Madrid and Barcelona's preseason clash at Las Vegas' Allegiant Stadium, as we get our first glimpse in 2022/23 of Carlo Ancelotti's European champions, 56 days after their Champions League final win over Liverpool.
While Madrid are kicking off their preseason fixture list, this is a second summer run-out for Barcelona, who walloped MLS team Inter Miami 6-0 in their opening warm-up earlier this week. They've since signed Robert Lewandowski, of course - so we should get our first look at him in action for the Blaugrana.
Kick-off in Nevada is 8pm PT/11pm ET.