In a thrilling pre-season match held in Arlington, Texas, Barcelona secured a convincing 3-0 victory over their arch-rivals, Real Madrid. The action-packed game saw Ousmane Dembele break the deadlock with the opening goal, while late strikes from Fermin Lopez and Ferran Torres sealed the triumph for Barcelona.
New signing Jude Bellingham, who formerly played for Real Madrid, showcased his skills with a header that unfortunately hit the woodwork, adding to the four other close efforts made by the Real side. Despite the result, Barca coach Xavi Hernandez pointed out that there are still areas for improvement.
The match had its fair share of dramatic moments. Barcelona’s Oriel Romeu was the first to strike the woodwork in the fourth minute, and shortly after, Dembele brilliantly converted a diagonal pass from Pedri to find the back of the net. Real Madrid was awarded a penalty, but Vinicius Junior’s attempt hit the bar, denying them a crucial chance.
Real Madrid continued to press on, hitting the woodwork three more times, with Bellingham’s header bouncing off the post. However, it was Barcelona substitute Fermin Lopez who stole the show with a spectacular 20-yard strike in the 85th minute, extending Barcelona’s lead. Ferran Torres later added another goal to seal the resounding victory over Thibaut Courtois and the Real Madrid defence.
Although the loss was disappointing for Real Madrid, coach Carlo Ancelotti praised his team’s intensity and the numerous chances they created throughout the match.
Both teams will continue their pre-season preparations with more exciting matches. Barcelona is set to face AC Milan, while Real Madrid will take on Juventus in their upcoming games in Las Vegas and Orlando, respectively.