Barcelona kicked off their 2024-25 season preparations with a victory, edging out Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City 4-1 on penalties after a 2-2 draw in regular time, during the opening match of their U.S. preseason tour.
The kickoff in Orlando was delayed over an hour due to a storm, but both teams delivered an entertaining exhibition once play began.
Under new manager Hansi Flick, Barça displayed intense energy and impressive performances, particularly from their young squad.
In City’s first game of their U.S. tour, they faced a 4-3 defeat to Celtic, also delayed by bad weather.
City, as usual, dominated possession early on, with Erling Haaland and Jack Grealish testing Iñaki Peña with significant saves in the opening minutes.
Barça, meanwhile, absorbed the pressure with a mid-block formation, looking to counter-attack from midfield wins.
The double pivot of Marc Casadó and Marc Bernal was particularly effective, connecting defense and attack with progressive passing and quick decisions.
When play finally started, Erling Haaland believed he had scored within the first 15 minutes from an Oscar Bobb cross, but the goal was not given.
Instead, Barça took the lead through Pau Victor, who scored under pressure from Kalvin Phillips after a delicate flick from Marc Casadó.
Casadó played a crucial role in the first goal with a beautiful assist to set up Pau Victor against Ederson, putting Barça ahead.
City then dominated possession, and Nico O’Reilly equalized after a great setup from Josko Gvardiol.
Nico O’Reilly brought City level, but Barça regained the lead before halftime when Pau Victor’s clever dummy allowed Pablo Torre to score.
Barça continued pressing energetically and were rewarded with a second goal, courtesy of Pau Victor’s dummy that gave Pablo Torre the space to score just before halftime.
The halftime whistle ended an exciting first half, with Barça’s young team playing well and leading into the break.
In the second half, both coaches retained most starters. City continued to dominate possession while Barça countered.
Pep Guardiola substituted Haaland and Ederson at halftime, and City equalized shortly after when Jack Grealish scored following Mateo Kovacic’s impressive run from City’s penalty area.
Pau Victor almost netted a second, but Stefan Ortega’s excellent save kept it level.
Barça remained a threat on the counter, though their defensive changes made them vulnerable. Mateo Kovacic’s solo effort led to Jack Grealish scoring City’s second equalizer.
As the game progressed, both sides made numerous substitutions, including Robert Lewandowski’s preseason debut and Alejandro Balde’s return after a six-month absence.
Substitutions caused the match to lose momentum, but the pace picked up again with increased physicality in the final 10 minutes.
Barça had a chance to win late when Noah Darvich set up Lewandowski, but Callum Doyle’s last-second block kept it tied.
The game ended in a draw, leading to a penalty shootout. Barça triumphed 4-1, with reserve keeper Ander Astralaga making two crucial saves.
All four Barça penalty takers converted, with Toni Fernández scoring the decisive penalty.
Kalvin Phillips was among the City players who missed in the shootout, resulting in a 4-1 win for Barcelona.
This match marked a positive start for Barça under Flick, showcasing high energy and intensity.
While young players like Casadó, Bernal, and Victor stood out, the team’s structure and organization without the ball were also impressive.
Barça looked well-coached, fit, and dedicated, offering a solid start for Flick, who will still find plenty to work on.
Next, City will face Chelsea in Ohio on Saturday, while Barcelona will meet La Liga rivals Real Madrid in New Jersey.
