Orlando, Florida – In a thrilling preseason friendly, Barcelona edged out Manchester City with a 4-1 victory in a penalty shootout after a 2-2 draw in regulation time. The match, held at Camping World Stadium on July 30, served as a warm-up for the upcoming 2024-25 season, with both teams showcasing a blend of young talent and seasoned players .Barcelona vs Manchester City
The game began with a storm delay, pushing the kickoff back by over an hour. Once underway, Manchester City, led by captain Erling Haaland, controlled much of the possession early on. Haaland and Jack Grealish both tested Barça’s goalkeeper Iñaki Peña with challenging shots, but the young keeper stood firm.
Barcelona vs Manchester City
Barcelona’s strategy revolved around a strong midfield presence, with Marc Casadó and Marc Bernal orchestrating play. Casadó’s exquisite assist set up Pau Víctor for the opening goal, giving Barça an early lead. Despite City’s dominance in possession, they struggled to break down Barça’s defense. However, Nico O’Reilly equalized just before halftime, thanks to a brilliant setup by Josko Gvardiol. Barcelona vs Manchester City
The Catalans quickly responded, with Pablo Torre capitalizing on a clever dummy by Pau Víctor to regain the lead before the break.
The second half saw both teams make numerous substitutions, with City continuing to push for an equalizer. Mateo Kovacic set up Grealish for City’s second goal, leveling the score. As the match wore on, both sides introduced more players, including Robert Lewandowski, who made his preseason debut for Barça.Barcelona vs Manchester City.
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