In a hotly contested friendly encounter on Saturday, Barcelona defeated Real Madrid 3-0 thanks to early goals from Ousmane Dembele and late strikes from Fermin Lopez and Ferran Torres.
Carlo Ancelotti's team had five chances to score and other scoring chances, hence the result was unfair to them. However, Barcelona, the Spanish champions, prevailed thanks to their more accurate finishing.
Despite being a preseason warm-up, the game was played with all the intensity and devotion of a real derby in front of a packed AT&T Stadium, home of the NFL's Dallas Cowboys.
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The crowd were soon on their feet when Oriel Romeu rattled the Real cross-bar with a thundering drive in the fourth minute but Barca soon had their fans celebrating.
A cleverly worked free-kick saw Pedri slide a diagonal pass into the path of Dembele, who expertly drilled the ball into the far corner.
Real had a great chance to get level just five minutes later when Barcelona defender Ronald Araujo handled in the box but Vinicius Junior blasted the penalty against the bar.
The action was non-stop as Rodrygo then forced Barcelona keeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen into a fine, full-length save with a free-kick that was flying towards the top corner.
The woodwork denied Real again when Vinicius struck the bar and although Jude Bellingham outjumped ter Stegen, the midfielder’s header hit the post.
Dembele had a chance at the other end when Ferland Mendy's error enabled him to get through on goal, but Thibaut Courtois stopped the French forward's weak shot with ease.
Tempers flared after a sliding challenge from behind from Frenkie de Jong on Eder Militao, with players from both teams scuffling on the half-way line and halftime likely came as a relief for American referee Allen Chapman.
After the interval, bad luck persisted as Vinicius resumed tormenting from the left and poked a shot from a small angle just wide while Aurelien Tchouameni blasted against the bar.
Despite numerous substitutes, neither team eased up, but Barcelona's finishing was the difference as replacement Fermin Lopez made it 2-0 in the 85th minute with a spectacular shot from outside the box after being set up by Sergi Roberto.
Vinicius miraculously hit the crossbar twice with his drive from a tight angle after a jinking run in from the left, giving Barca the victory in stoppage time.
Ferran Torres, ran on to a lofted ball from Lopez, lifted the ball over the advancing Courtois and showed good awareness and balance to turn and slot the ball into the empty net.
Barcelona coach Xavi Hernandez admitted the scoreline flattered his team.
“The result could have been different, the result is a bit misleading, Madrid also had many chances and we shouldn’t be overconfident,” he said.
“The result is very favourable but it doesn’t mean we played a super match. There are many things to improve. It was a very even match in which Madrid also had many chances,” he said.
Xavi also questioned whether he had enough depth for the upcoming season.
“I think Madrid have a much bigger squad than us. At the end of the game they were taking players out and they have many players in the midfield, physical, technical, they have a wide range of possibilities,” he said.
“We tried to play and impose our game and in many moments we succeeded. I am satisfied with the way we competed and in many moments we looked like what we want to be,” he said.
Ancelotti also played down the scoreline and was pleased by many aspects.
“The result is the least important thing. It hurts to lose, but I’ll keep the good things we did,” said Ancelotti.
“We were good in terms of intensity, we had a lot of chances that didn’t go in. Five (against the woodwork) in a game is quite rare, I don’t think it has ever happened to me. But it’s better if it happens in pre-season,” added the Italian.
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