Barcelona vs Club América
Club América, the newly crowned champions of Liga MX, secured a thrilling 3-2 victory against LaLiga title-holders Barcelona during a friendly match held at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas. The event took place on Thursday night and proved to be an enthralling encounter.
Barcelona arrived in Dallas straight from their victorious clash against Almeria in Spain, utilizing an alternative lineup for the midweek game that featured six teenagers, with three making their debut appearances.
The LaLiga giants initiated the scoring early in the match through the impressive 16-year-old Lamine Yamal, who exhibited his skills by racing up the field from the midfield, beating Club América’s goalkeeper Angel Malagon, and securing a 1-0 lead for Barca.
Responding swiftly, Club América’s Colombia-born Mexican international, Julian Quiñones, netted an equalizer in the 12th minute. He brilliantly backheeled the ball into the net after receiving a pass from United States midfielder Alejandro Zendejas, leveling the score.
Despite a slight slowdown in pace from both teams due to recent match participations, Barcelona managed to reclaim the lead at 2-1 with a 28th-minute goal from 17-year-old Marc Guiu. Guiu connected skillfully with full-back Hector Fort’s low cross, finding the net with a sliding finish.
However, Barcelona’s lead was short-lived as Quiñones capitalized on a defensive duel with Pau Cubarsí, bypassing 19-year-old goalkeeper Ander Astralaga shortly after the break, leveling the score once again at 2-2.
In the second half, filled with numerous substitutions from both sides, Club América surged ahead with an 82nd-minute goal by striker Henry Martín, who entered the game in the 62nd minute. Despite a spirited effort from Barcelona, which saw key players like João Cancelo and Robert Lewandowski joining the action from the bench, América maintained their lead, securing the win as the final whistle blew.
Club América had recently clinched their 14th Liga MX championship by defeating Tigres 4-1 on aggregate in a two-legged final held last Sunday. They are set to return to action in January with the commencement of the upcoming 2024 Clausura season.
For Barcelona, the manager Xavi had mentioned earlier in the week that the friendly match was crucial to assist the club financially. They will resume their LaLiga campaign in January after receiving a reported payment of €5 million for their participation in the friendly encounter, according to ESPN sources.