Barcelona vs Man City 2 (4 -1) 2 | Goals & Highlights - Penalties

Barcelona’s preparations for the 2024-25 season got off to a winning start thanks to a 4-1 victory on penalties over Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City after a 2-2 draw in regulation in the opening match of their preseason tour of the United States. After a storm delayed the kickoff by over an hour the two teams put on a fun exhibition in Orlando, and Barça took their first steps under Hansi Flick with an intense, energetic display filled with impressive performances by a very young Blaugrana side.
FIRST HALF
City had most of the ball as usual to start the game, and created some good chances early on with Erling Haaland and Jack Grealish both forcing Iñaki Peña into some big saves in the opening minutes.
Barça absorbed the pressure and mostly stayed in a mid-block looking for opportunities to win the ball in midfield to counter-attack quickly, but they also had their moments in possession and moved the ball well between the lines thanks to the very productive double pivot of Marc Casadó and Marc Bernal, who connected defense and attack well with their progressive passing and quick decision-making.
And it was Casadó who was at the heart of the first goal with a gorgeous assist to put Pau Víctor one-on-one with Ederson and give Barça the lead. Barça sat back after scoring and City dominated the ball at the end of the half, and Nico O’Reilly finally broke the deadlock after a great assist from Josko Gvardiol.
But the Catalans were not done and continued to press with intensity and energy, and were rewarded with a second goal thanks to a brilliant dummy by Pau Víctor that froze the entire City defense and gave Pablo Torre plenty of time and space to find the bottom corner and put Barça ahead just before the break.
The halftime whistle came to end a fun opening period, with a young and hungry Barça side playing well as a team and taking the lead into the interval.