Barcelona settle the Clasico against their rivals with a goal from the newcomer

Barcelona wrapped up the Spanish friendly El Clasico in Las Vegas with a 1-0 win over arch-rivals Real Madrid, while Arsenal beat compatriots Chelsea 4-0 to win the Florida Cup friendly, while rookie Norwegian striker Erling Holland led his Manchester. Bayern Munich in Wisconsin is one of these teams’ tours of the United States as City beat Manchester City in preparation for the new season.

In front of 65,000 spectators at the Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, former Bayern striker Robert Lewandowski and the Catalan side sealed Barcelona’s Clasico with a goal from Brazil rookie Rafinha.

This will be the second friendly El Clásico to be played on American soil after Barcelona beat their rivals 3-2 in front of 64,000 spectators at the “Hard Rock Stadium” in Miami on July 30, 2017.

Rafinha jumps to celebrate Barcelona’s winning goal (AFP)

Leeds United-bound Rafinha scored the winning goal in the 27th minute when he dislodged the ball from Real Brazil defender Eder Militão before slotting it into the net with a powerful shot.

It was the second goal in two matches for the Brazilian, who moved to the “Camp Nou” from Leeds United earlier this month for nearly €70 million, and according to the local press, he scored and assisted. Two decisive balls in the Hexagonal victory over Inter Miami on Tuesday.

Barcelona could have scored more goals but Real’s Belgium goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois saved shots from new Ivory Coast midfielder Frank Gesse and Frenchman Ousmane Dembele (87) in the 72nd minute.

Despite the friendly nature of the crowd, the atmosphere inside the green rectangle reflected the culmination of a long rivalry between these two football giants. Real fielded new signing Antonio Rudiger along with most of his key players but were without their star French striker Karim Benzema, with Italian coach Carlo Ancelotti opting not to give him much rest after extending his summer break. Real Madrid, playing their first friendly of the season, opened the scoring in the 18th minute with a shot from Uruguayan midfielder Federico Valverde, but his shot hit the post.

Two minutes later, Barcelona responded with Anzu Fati’s strike after Petri’s pass, but his shot went wide despite the clearance of goalkeeper Courtois.

Barcelona dominated the first half, which saw Lewandowski take part in a clash with his former team, who was replaced by Gabonese striker Pierre-Emerick-Aubameyang early in the second half.

The atmosphere was tense after Jordi Alba’s fierce objection to Real’s Brazilian striker Vinicius Junior, so players intervened to break up the clash between capital Madrid, German defender Antonio Rudiger and Uruguay’s Ronald Araujo.

Real almost equalized in the 59th minute, but substitute Marco Asensio’s shot went wide after Lucas Vazquez’s pass.

After the meeting, Barcelona coach Xavi praised Lewandowski: “Robert is a world star who came to us very humbly. He quickly integrated into the team.”

Xavi expressed his delight at Lewandowski and Rafinha’s new contracts and the win against Real Madrid, insisting: “For me, there are no friendly matches with Real.”

Real, the European and Spanish champions, will continue their tour of America, playing against Club America in San Francisco tomorrow, while Barcelona face Juventus in Dallas the same evening.

At the Camping World Stadium in Orlando, USA, Arsenal beat rivals Chelsea by four wins (dawn GMT yesterday) to lift the symbolic Florida Cup.

Manchester City’s new player, the English champion “Gunners”, in the 15th minute scored the goals of Brazilian striker Gabriel Jesus, Norwegian Martin Odegaard (36), Bugayo Saka (66), Belgian player Albert. Sambi Lokonga (90). This is Arsenal’s third consecutive win in friendlies on this tour of America, and their fifth in a row this summer in preparation for the new season. On the other hand, Chelsea suffered their second straight defeat in this friendly after opening their games with a 2-1 win over Club America of Mexico.

He opened the scoring with a beautiful “lob” shot against Senegal goalkeeper Edouard Mendy before Odicard doubled the score after a pass from Brazil’s Gabi Martinelli.

Mason Mount almost reduced the score in Chelsea’s favor with a powerful shot that tricked Arsenal goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale and hit the post in the 49th minute. Saga extended Arsenal’s lead to three goals in the second half following a save by goalkeeper Mendy. Twice in the 65th minute, Sambi Lokonga headed home Cedric Suarez’s pass to score before ending the festivities.

Both teams return to Europe at the end of their US tour, with Chelsea playing a final friendly against Italian Udinese on the 29th, while Arsenal host their Spanish hosts Sevilla on the 30th in preparation for the start of the English Premier League. Matches on 6th August.

In front of 78,128,000 spectators at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin, Norwegian rookie Holland led his team, champions of England, Manchester City, to a 1-1 victory over Bayern Munich, champions of Germany for the past ten seasons. Zero in a friendly match that was called off due to a typhoon.

City Holland’s coach, Spaniard Josep Guardiola, started against the familiar Bavarian giants as the international striker sat on the bench in his first pre-season friendly after two years in the German league with Borussia Dortmund. City in the round when they beat Club America 2-1.

Holland scored the only goal of the game in the 12th minute when he followed a Jack Grealish cross into the net.

Holland scores his first goal with City (AFP).

Thanks to his moves into Bayern’s defense, the Norwegian giant (1.94cm) has ensured he is the perfect spearhead and missing piece in Guardiola’s attack since the Argentinian club’s all-time great Sergio Aguero left in 2021. After the storm was stopped after City scored the first goal and both teams changed clothes and returned to the rooms while fans were asked to leave the ground. The match resumed around an hour later after City were unable to increase their output and Bayern agreed to play two halves of 40 minutes without overturning the result.

The English champions imposed their rhythm on the match, while Bayern received a cross pass in the 38th minute before Canadian Alphonso Davies, who was following in front of the ball, was followed into the area without the ball. Reaches Serge Gnabry.

Holland almost doubled the result a minute later, but the referee ruled out his goal for offside with a left-footed shot from inside the area. Holland left the field in the 40th minute and was replaced by fellow Argentine striker Julian Alvarez, who scored City’s second goal three minutes later.

After the meeting, Holland expressed his delight at his new partnership with Grealish, as he has already agreed with the former Aston Villa winger, who has struggled to make the expected impact since his move to Manchester City last August. . Holland confirmed his belief in more links with Grealish and both have a lot to offer, adding: “He’s good, he’s got to step up and I’ve got to step up, but there’s a good partnership. I like the atmosphere around it, so it’s going to be fun.

He added: “As you all know, I’ve been watching a lot of Manchester City games over the years and not having a clear striker, so of course I saw myself in the same situation as I was today, so I wasn’t. Surprised.”

City and Bayern have finished their warm-up tour and are gearing up for the official results. The former will play against Liverpool in the Community Shield on the 30th of this month, while Bayern will face their rivals Leipzig in the German Super Cup.