At MetLife Stadium on Saturday night, Real Madrid lost 2-1 to Barcelona in a preseason game marred by inclement weather. Severe weather caused a delay in the game shortly after kickoff, and there was originally a sense of concern around the match. Twelve minutes into the game, police arrived on the field and advised the referee to stop play. All cell phones in the stadium received an alert telling people to seek cover.
Around 8:30 PM local time, play resumed following a nervous wait. But things did not go as Real Madrid had wanted in the game. In the 42nd minute, Pau Victor’s well-placed rebound gave Barcelona the lead. Victor scored once more in the 54th minute to give the Catalan team a two-goal lead. On both occasions, Real Madrid’s defense looked disjointed as Éder Militão and Antonio Rüdiger failed to successfully mark their opponents, leaving goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois vulnerable.
Courtois played admirably despite the loss, producing several vital saves to keep Barcelona from expanding their advantage.
Positively speaking, Arda Güler kept up his impressive play for Real Madrid. The youthful midfield player regularly maneuvered out of tight positions with precise touches, showcasing his technical skill and poise under duress. Güler was a constant source of energy throughout the match, and in the 82nd minute, he brought the house down with a fantastic assist to Nico Paz. Los Blancos were somewhat relieved by Paz’s goal, which cut Barcelona’s lead in half.
Several Castilla players earned significant playing time during the match. There were six young players there, including Joan Martinez, who entered in the second half and showed promise. Nico Paz’s goal served as another evidence of the potential there in the academy.Éder Militão replaced the injured Jesús Vallejo in the starting lineup, and Vinícius Júnior added flare to the left wing in the second half. Despite being rested, Rodrygo is anticipated to play in Real Madrid’s last preseason match in Charlotte against Chelsea.
Even though the outcome was disappointing, it’s important to keep in mind that the main goals of preseason games are to gauge squad depth and improve fitness. As Real Madrid gets ready for the new season, they will try to fix their defensive problems and polish their game plan. Preseason results don’t always portend what’s to come, as past events have demonstrated, thus the emphasis is still on being at your best for the upcoming competitive games.