EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Pau Victor was the shock star of Barcelona’s 2-1 win over rivals Actual Madrid at MetLife Stadium on Saturday when the previous member of the membership’s reserve crew scored a brace in a preseason version of El Clasico.
Actual Madrid acquired off to a fast begin and racked up 5 pictures throughout the opening 40 minutes however with out stars like Kylian Mbappe and Jude Bellingham, each of whom are nonetheless on trip after making deep runs with their respective nationwide groups on the Euros, an lack of ability to complete turned obvious. They maintained management in possession however their inefficiency in assault offered an ideal opening for a extra medical Barcelona.
Victor scored his first within the forty second minute, pouncing on a unfastened ball within the penalty space. Robert Lewandowski obtained a cross whereas he was proper in entrance of the objective, however his imperfect contact meant he couldn’t take an honest shot and so the ball bounced to his proper. Victor was fast to react because the ball floated within the air, thrusting his head in the appropriate path for a end from shut vary.
The 22-year-old scored once more within the 54th minute off one other shot from shut vary. Alex Valle made a run down the appropriate flank and performed a brief cross proper in entrance of objective the place Victor was making a run. He was sliding in direction of objective as he made contact together with his foot, sending the ball into the again of the online within the course of.
The 2 groups continued to rack up pictures as the sport progressed, with Actual Madrid closing the hole courtesy of Nico Paz’s objective within the 82nd minute. Paz scored from shut vary following a formidable particular person effort.
Although the groups performed a reasonably even sport on possession and practically matched one another for pictures, their ending skill is what made the distinction. Barcelona put six pictures out of 11 heading in the right direction, whereas Actual Madrid had the identical quantity of pictures however simply three on body.
The match was interrupted within the sixteenth minute by a lightning-induced climate delay, which halted the sport for an hour and 12 minutes. The groups resumed play on a rain-soaked discipline however had been uninterrupted after the delay, which compelled them to truncate halftime right into a five-minute interval.
Victor’s brace comes simply days after he scored in Barcelona’s 2-2 draw with Manchester Metropolis in preseason, rising as an surprising standout throughout the membership’s U.S. tour. The 22-year-old is a product of the Girona academy, however joined Barcelona’s reserve crew on mortgage final season, for whom he scored 20 targets in 39 video games. He earned a contract with the primary crew simply days earlier than Barcelona started their preseason tour, signing a deal till 2029.
His early success displays Barcelona’s technique over the previous few seasons, during which they’ve relied on younger skills to bridge the hole between themselves and Actual Madrid. Barcelona have spent the post-Lionel Messi period strapped for money due to La Liga’s guidelines guaranteeing golf equipment don’t spend past their means on transfers, whereas Actual Madrid have managed their funds effectively sufficient to stay considered one of Europe’s splashiest golf equipment.
Actual Madrid confirmed their monetary may by lastly touchdown Mbappe’s signature this summer time and although Saturday’s loss left a bit to be desired on the pitch, it looks like a special story may play out when the 2 sides face one another in La Liga play this season, when Actual Madrid are anticipated to have all their stars accessible to them.
Each groups wrap up their preseason tour of the U.S. on Tuesday when Barcelona play AC Milan at Baltimore’s M&T Financial institution Stadium whereas Actual Madrid tackle Chelsea at Charlotte’s Financial institution of America Stadium.
