An Electrifying Encounter in New Jersey: In a thrilling showdown at MetLife Stadium, FC Barcelona emerged victorious over Real Madrid with a 2-1 win, extending their unbeaten streak in U.S. El Clásico match today. The match, held on Saturday, August 3, 2024, witnessed an impressive performance from Pau Víctor, who scored twice to lead Barça to victory in front of 82,154 fans. This match also marked Hansi Flick’s first El Clásico as Barça manager.
A Storied Rivalry Continues on American Soil
This edition of the world’s greatest sports rivalry was the fourth El Clásico held in the United States in recent years, with previous matches taking place in Miami (2017), Las Vegas (2022), and Dallas (2023). Barça’s victory continued their dominance on American soil, having won the first three matchups as well.
El Clásico Match Today: Weather Delay Adds Drama
For the second time during their U.S. tour, Barça had to deal with a lightning delay. The match against Real Madrid was interrupted in the 12th minute due to heavy rain and lightning, causing a delay of over an hour. This was similar to an earlier delay in the week during Barça’s win over Manchester City. After the interruption, the players returned to the field for a brief warm-up session, with halftime adjusted to only five minutes to compensate for the delay.
El Clásico Match Today: Real Madrid vs FC Barcelona Pau Víctor’s Early Impact
Barça started the match aggressively, with Pau Víctor nearly opening the scoring in the 7th minute with a powerful header from a corner, only to be denied by Thibaut Courtois’ quick reflexes. The Catalans continued to press, and by the 21st minute, Víctor and Unai Hernández combined to make a menacing run, but Real Madrid’s defense managed to thwart the attack.
Disallowed Goal for Real Madrid
Real Madrid thought they had taken the lead in the 24th minute when Brahim Díaz set up Arda Güler, who beat Marc-André ter Stegen. However, Güler was ruled offside, and the goal was disallowed. At the other end, Víctor kept up the pressure, firing a long-range shot just wide of Courtois’ right post in the 26th minute.
El Clásico Match Today: Real Madrid vs FC Barcelona First Goal: Víctor Breaks the Deadlock
The breakthrough came in the 42nd minute. Pau Víctor, who had been knocking on the door all game, nodded in from close range. The play was set up by Álex Valle’s precise cross, with Robert Lewandowski providing the assist from the far post inside the six-yard box. Barça went into halftime with a 1-0 lead, although the intermission itself was just five minutes, with players remaining on the field.
El Clásico Match Today: Real Madrid vs FC Barcelona Second Half: Víctor Strikes Again
The second half saw Pau Víctor continue to shine. In the 52nd minute, he forced Courtois to make a spectacular diving save. Just two minutes later, Víctor struck again after Lewandowski linked up with Valle, who delivered another precision cross. The 22-year-old finished in stride to double Barça’s lead, marking his third goal in two games.
Real Madrid’s Response
Real Madrid fought back, with Vinícius Júnior coming close to scoring on several occasions, only to be denied by ter Stegen’s heroics. In the 63rd minute, ter Stegen made a crucial save at the far post from a corner, and another in the 69th minute at the near post after a determined run by the Brazilian.
El Clásico Match Today: Real Madrid vs FC Barcelona Substitutions and Tactical Adjustments
Hansi Flick made several substitutions, with Raphinha coming on for Víctor and Ter Stegen being replaced by Iñaki Peña. The German goalkeeper passed the captain’s armband to Lewandowski. The fresh legs helped Barça maintain their control, especially with Ilkay Gündoğan coming on to help with ball possession in the midfield.
El Clásico Match Today: Real Madrid vs FC Barcelona Late Goal Adds Tension
Real Madrid managed to pull one back in the 82nd minute when Nico Paz headed in a corner kick delivered by Arda Güler, making the final moments tense. Despite the late push from Real Madrid, Barça held firm to secure a 2-1 victory, continuing the Catalans’ supremacy in these American showdowns.
Conclusion: Barça’s Unbeaten Run Continues
With this victory, FC Barcelona remains undefeated against Real Madrid on American soil, thanks to Pau Víctor’s brilliant performance and another strong showing by Barça’s youngsters. The match was a testament to Barça’s resilience and tactical prowess under new manager Hansi Flick, signaling a promising season ahead for the Catalan giants. As they look to dethrone the Spanish and European champions, this win serves as a significant morale booster and a statement of intent for the upcoming LaLiga season.