Barcelona gained the primary El Clasico of the season on Saturday night time after Pau Victor’s brace handed them a 2-1 victory over bitter rivals Actual Madrid in New York.
It was one other big victory for Hansi Flick in pre-season after Barcelona additionally beat Premier League champions Manchester Metropolis on penalties earlier this week.
The sport, performed in entrance of a sell-out crowd in New York, was suspended for an hour after a wild storm round MetLife Stadium. When play continued, Barcelona confirmed Actual why they will not have all of it their very own means in LaLiga once more this season.
Right here, Mail Sport picks out 5 issues we discovered from the sport.
Barcelona gained the primary El Clasico of the season as they beat rivals Actual Madrid 2-1 in New York
Prolific Pau strikes once more
Barcelona scored eight much less objectives than Actual Madrid and 6 fewer than Girona in LaLiga final season.
Robert Lewandowski can be coming into the twilight years of his profession so if Barcelona are going to wrestle again the title this season then extra firepower is required.
Step ahead Pau Victor.
The 22-year-old is not any wonderkid however he is been deadly throughout pre-season and his brace right here proved to be decisive. He additionally scored in that win over Manchester Metropolis.
After spending time on mortgage with each Sabadell and Barcelona’s B group within the final two seasons, he lastly seems to be prepared for extra first-team motion and might be a harmful new weapon for Flick.
Pau Victor scored two objectives for Barcelona as he continued to show his value to Hansi Flick
Endrick wants time
With Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Jr, Rodrygo and Jude Bellingham anticipated to start out nearly all of video games in assault subsequent season, this was an incredible likelihood for Endrick to indicate what he can do in huge video games.
Sadly, the 18-year-old seemed barely overwhelmed by the event and didn’t do something of word.
It have to be mentioned he is solely simply joined up along with his new teammates and connections on the pitch are nonetheless being shaped. A mistimed run in behind within the first half, for instance, was an opportunity that obtained away.
He additionally dragged a shot vast that actually ought to have been on the right track within the opening 45 minutes after which, as the sport progressed, he went lacking as Actual looked for objectives.
It isn’t honest to place an excessive amount of expectation on him subsequent season however, as loads of former Actual gamers will level out, you do not get a lot time to settle in on the Bernabeu.
Endrick began up entrance on his personal however the Brazilian struggled to have any affect on the sport
Flick’s the true deal
Ever since Ernesto Valverde left in 2020, having gained two LaLiga titles and one Copa del Rey, Barcelona have had a fairly dismal run of coaches.
It felt just like the job was too huge for Quique Setien and Ronald Koeman and whereas Xavi gained LaLiga, his inexperience in the end confirmed as issues off the sector engulfed issues on it.
However in Flick they’ve now obtained a coach with a confirmed observe report of success at Bayern Munich who has a transparent plan of how he desires his group to play.
The technique each in construct up on the ball and in urgent with out it was clear to see and his group dominated for almost all of the sport right here.
Bayern are additionally famend for having political points within the boardroom. If Flick can navigate these at Barcelona, they might have struck gold within the dugout.
Hansi Flick hasn’t been in cost for lengthy however his fashion is already evident in Barcelona’s play
Vinicius Jr is in a league of his personal
Vinicius had barely been on the sector for 5 minutes however the injection of high quality he delivered to proceedings was exceptional.
It felt as if a Actual participant hadn’t dribbled previous their man all night time however Vinicius’ need to just do that remodeled the sport.
He nearly needed it an excessive amount of and at one level was working over and taking the ball off teammates after they have been simply yards away.
Vinicius might be forgiven for feeling just like the limelight has shifted off him and onto Mbappe after the Frenchman’s blockbuster arrival from Paris Saint-Germain.
However as an alternative of feeling threatened, he must be salivating on the injury an assault of himself, Mbappe, Bellingham and Rodrygo can do to European soccer.
Vinicius Jr had a direct affect on the sport for Actual Madrid and his high quality stood out
World Cup warning
MetLife Stadium will host the 2026 World Cup ultimate however tonight we noticed a real drawback with internet hosting a significant match within the US in summer time.
After simply 12 minutes the sport was suspended for an hour due to stormy situations overhead that introduced torrential rain and lightning.
Equally, down in Fort Lauderdale in Florida, Saturday night time’s pleasant between Premier League facet Wolves and Germany’s RB Leipzig was hit with torrential rain.
Clouds gathered over MetLife Stadium earlier than performed was paused for an hour resulting from a storm
Clearly FIFA cannot predict and plan for adversarial climate however the recommendation for followers was a bit of complicated right here tonight.
They have been first advised to shelter within the concourse whereas the storm was above. However then they have been allowed to return to their seats – and the gamers to the pitch – whereas the storm was nonetheless raging.
Should you’re coming to America in 2026, the recommendation appears fairly clear: convey your ponchos as a result of it might be a soaking moist World Cup.
