Real Madrid opened their Soccer Champions Tour campaign with a defeat in El Clásico at Las Vegas’s Allegiant Stadium. This has been the first showdown among the Spanish teams but however, we already noticed the intensity of players from both sides trying to prove their worth not only to their fans but to their teammates and directors. Both Xavi Hernandez and Carlo Ancelotti were leaving everything on the field with their players to make sure they came out triumphant.
The first pre-season run-out for Carlo Ancelotti’s charges got off to a rip-roaring start as Aurélien Tchouameni and Antonio Rüdiger took their places in the starting line-up for the first time since checking in at the club. Even why just a friendly game, it was an intense match with Real Madrid controlling the ball slightly more than Barcelona, while the Catalans created more in front of the goal.
In the beginning Barcelona fired in a warning shot from Robert Lewandowski that Thibaut Courtois punched away. The clearest opportunity of the game came in the 18th minute when Fede Valverde brought the ball down on his chest on the edge of the area, before unleashing a thumping effort from outside the box that crashed back off Marc-André ter Stegen’s right upright.
The game had become an end-to-end affair and Rüdiger was next to try his luck from range after a driving run from inside his own half. Barcelona hit the front with 27 minutes on the clock when Raphinha’s left-footed strike nestled into the top corner. It’s true that it was also a defensive error but Raphinha's incredible execution took everyone by surprise including Thibaut Courtois. Madrid however, fashioned two fine chances before the break. Firstly, Valverde conjured up an effort with the outside of his boot, before David Alaba’s free-kick effort sailed over the bar.
At the stroke of halftime, the Friendly Clasico heated up after Jordi Alba brought down Vinícius as he was facing Ter Stegen's goal after a great move at high speed. Rodrygo took on Busquets, who had earlier tried to bring down the Brazilian superstar, while the FC Barcelona captain did not like that the Real Madrid player was asking for explanations in such a way and it caused a scene. That's when all the alarms went off, with Courtois crossing the whole field to try to put peace in the forefront of the match while other players took part in the conflict. After all, it’s El Clasico!!
Ancelotti made several changes at the break in an effort to administer his players’ efforts in pre-season. On came Ferland Mendy, Luka Modrić, Casemiro, Marco Asensio, Nacho and Toni Kroos. The first chance of the second period went the way of the German midfielder on 53’, but his free-kick flew over the bar. Madrid came a whisker away from restoring parity following some fine link-up play between Rodrygo, Lucas Vázquez and Asensio, but the Balearic Islands-born man failed to make a clean connection with his right-footed shot.
Fatigue began to take its toll and the tempo of the contest dropped. Courtois prevented Barcelona from doubling their money when he kept out a Franck Kessie effort, before twice denying efforts from Ousmane Dembélé. No further goals were forthcoming and Real Madrid now switch their attentions to their next Soccer Champions Tour outing, against Club América (Wednesday 27 July at 4:30am CET).
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