Manchester City faced Barcelona in a friendly match in Orlando, USA, which was delayed by 80 minutes due to a storm. The sell-out crowd of 63,237 fans had to seek shelter under the stands before the game finally kicked off.
Both teams were missing some key players, but Manchester City’s line-up included Erling Haaland, the leading scorer in the Premier League for the 2023-24 season with 27 goals, and Jack Grealish. Grealish, who was left out of England’s Euro 2024 squad, made an impact by scoring for City.
Barcelona took the lead through Pau Victor, but England youth midfielder Nico O’Reilly, who is just 19 years old, equalized for Manchester City. Pablo Torre restored Barcelona’s lead, but Grealish found the top corner to level the score again.
The match eventually went to penalties, and Barcelona emerged victorious with a 4-1 win. Kalvin Phillips and Jacob Wright from Manchester City saw their penalty attempts saved.
Despite the result, Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola chose to focus on the positives, particularly praising Grealish’s performance. He highlighted Grealish’s aggression and his ability to take several shots during the game.
Guardiola said, “I know in controlling the ball he is good, but he made four or five shots. He has to prove himself but I am really pleased with the game he played.”
This friendly match was part of Manchester City’s pre-season preparations. So far, they have not managed to secure a win, but Guardiola remains optimistic and believes there were encouraging signs from the team.
Manchester City’s final game of their USA tour will be against Chelsea in Columbus, Ohio. After that, they will face Manchester United in the Community Shield at Wembley on August 10th.
This match against Barcelona provided valuable opportunities for City’s players to gain match fitness and for Guardiola to assess his squad ahead of the upcoming season. Despite the result, it allowed the team to iron out any weaknesses and build chemistry on the field.
Friendly matches like these are important for teams to test their strategies, tactics, and player combinations. They provide a chance to experiment and fine-tune the team’s approach before the competitive season begins.
As for Grealish, his performance in this match could be crucial in staking his claim for a regular starting spot in Manchester City’s lineup. Despite not being selected for England’s Euro 2024 squad, he has the chance to prove himself on the domestic stage and make a strong impression.
Overall, while the result may not have gone in Manchester City’s favor, this friendly match against Barcelona served as a valuable opportunity for the team and individual players to grow and improve ahead of the upcoming season.