Victor nets brace as Barcelona defeat Real Madrid in US friendly
Pau Victor scored twice as Barcelona defeated their Spanish rivals and La Liga champions Real Madrid in a friendly held in the United States.
Real Madrid were missing England international Jude Bellingham and France forward Kylian Mbappe, who did not join the club’s US tour after participating in this summer’s European Championship in Germany for their respective countries.
In the first El Clasico of the season, the match at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey was interrupted after 12 minutes due to a heavy storm. Play resumed after a delay of over an hour.
Barcelona took the lead just before half-time when 22-year-old forward Victor headed in a cross from Robert Lewandowski. Thibaut Courtois made a good save from Lewandowski before Victor scored his second goal shortly after the break, doubling the lead for Hansi Flick’s side.
Real Madrid’s Nico Paz scored late in the game, but Barcelona held on for the victory.
Victor’s double brings his tally to three goals in Barcelona’s two games during their US tour, having also scored in a 2-2 draw against Premier League champions Manchester City earlier in the week.
Ancelotti unconcerned by latest loss
The defeat was Real Madrid’s second of their US tour after losing 1-0 to Italians AC Milan last week.
They play Premier League side Chelsea on 6 August in North Carolina, but Real boss Carlo Ancelotti is not reading too much into his side’s successive losses.
Vinicius Jr looked sharp as he played his first minutes of the summer for the Spanish giants and Ancelotti said the games’ purpose was to give his players game time rather than focus on the result.
“We’re working on our preparations and the players are gradually coming back to the team. The result is not so important,” he said.
“The objective is for players to get minutes and to get them in good shape. We’re not focusing on tactical aspects. That starts on the seventh [of August].
“We’re not worried. It’s a pre-season game and we’re missing eight players.”