Barcelona triumphed in the opening El Clasico of the season on Saturday evening, as Pau Victor’s two goals propelled them to a 2-1 win over arch-rivals Real Madrid in New York.
This was yet another significant pre-season success for Hansi Flick, with Barcelona having previously secured a penalty shootout victory against Premier League champions Manchester City earlier this week.
The match, held before a full house in New York, was halted for an hour due to a severe storm around MetLife Stadium. Once the game resumed, Barcelona demonstrated to Real that they won’t have it easy in LaLiga this season.
Here, Mail Sport highlights five key takeaways from the match.
Barcelona won the first El Clasico of the season as they beat rivals Real Madrid 2-1 in New York
Pau’s Prolific Performance
Last season, Barcelona netted eight fewer goals than Real Madrid and six less than Girona in LaLiga.
With Robert Lewandowski nearing the later stages of his career, Barcelona will need to bolster their attack if they aim to reclaim the title this year.
Enter Pau Victor.
At 22, he may not be a teenage prodigy, but he has been remarkably effective in pre-season, and his two goals here were key. He also found the net in the match against Manchester City.
Having been loaned to both Sabadell and Barcelona’s B team over the past two seasons, he now seems poised for substantial first-team involvement, potentially becoming a valuable asset for Flick.
Pau Victor scored two goals for Barcelona as he continued to prove his worth to Hansi Flick
Endrick Requires Patience
With Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Jr, Rodrygo, and Jude Bellingham likely to headline the attack next season, this was an excellent opportunity for Endrick to display his abilities in a big match.
Unfortunately, the 18-year-old appeared somewhat daunted by the moment and did not make a significant impact.
It’s worth noting he has just begun integrating with his new teammates, leading to on-pitch connections still being established. For instance, a mis-timed run in the first half resulted in a missed chance.
He also shot wide when he should have at least tested the goalkeeper in the first half. As the match wore on, he faded from view as Real sought goals.
It’s unreasonable to heap too much pressure on him for the upcoming season, but as numerous former Real players will attest, there’s little time for acclimatization at the Bernabeu.
Endrick started up front on his own but the Brazilian struggled to have any impact on the game
Flick Proving His Worth
Since Ernesto Valverde’s departure in 2020, after securing two LaLiga titles and one Copa del Rey, Barcelona has endured a string of disappointing managerial tenures.
Both Quique Setien and Ronald Koeman struggled in the role, and while Xavi did win LaLiga, his lack of experience ultimately led to issues off the pitch overshadowing on-field matters.
Now, with Flick at the helm, Barcelona has a coach with a commendable history of success at Bayern Munich, along with a defined vision for his team.
His tactical approach, both in building play and in pressing without the ball, was evident, as his team largely dominated the match.
Bayern are known for experiencing political strife at the board level; should Flick successfully manage such issues at Barcelona, they may have struck gold in their managerial search.
Hansi Flick hasn’t been in charge for long but his style is already evident in Barcelona’s play
Vinicius Jr Shines Bright
Vinicius had barely been on the pitch for five minutes before his impact was felt; his quality was genuinely transformative.
For much of the game, it seemed as though no Real player was effectively dribbling past an opponent, but Vinicius’ eagerness to do so changed the course of the match.
He displayed a hunger to take control, sometimes going so far as to take the ball from teammates only a few yards away.
Instead of feeling overshadowed by Mbappe’s arrival from Paris Saint-Germain, he should be eager about the potential of an attacking lineup featuring himself, Mbappe, Bellingham, and Rodrygo in European football.
Vinicius Jr had an immediate impact on the game for Real Madrid and his quality stood out
World Cup Concerns
MetLife Stadium is set to host the 2026 World Cup final, but yesterday’s events highlighted potential challenges of holding a major tournament in the US during the summer months.
The match was temporarily halted after just 12 minutes due to severe weather conditions, which included heavy rain and lightning.
Similarly, down in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, another friendly between Premier League’s Wolves and Germany’s RB Leipzig faced disruption due to torrential rain.
Clouds gathered over MetLife Stadium before play was paused for an hour due to a storm
While FIFA cannot foresee adverse conditions, the guidance given to fans was somewhat perplexing.
Initially, fans were instructed to seek shelter in the concourse during the storm. However, they were later permitted to return to their seats, as were the players, even while the weather remained inclement.
If you’re heading to America for the 2026 World Cup, one piece of advice stands out: be sure to pack your ponchos, as it could turn out to be a very soggy tournament.
