Real Madrid 2 Barcelona 3: Messi, Rakitic and Pique secure El Clasico win as Neymar rumours rumble on
Barcelona drew first blood against Real Madrid ahead of the new season with a 3-2 victory in a pulsating Clasico friendly on Saturday in Miami.
The historic rivals will meet again twice in August in the Spanish Super Cup and this International Champions Cup match set the entertainment bar high, with Gerard Pique's strike settling a fiercely contested clash.
Madrid were missing Cristiano Ronaldo, still on holiday, but both teams were close to full strength. Ernesto Valverde, getting a taste of Clasico drama early in his career as Barcelona manager, selected Neymar despite speculation swirling over the Brazilian's future at the club.
However, it was stalwart Lionel Messi who opened the scoring after just three minutes, beating Luka Modric and firing home, with his strike deflecting off Raphael Varane and beating Keylor Navas.
Barcelona were dominant and Ivan Rakitic doubled their lead with a powerful drive when Suarez helped force Neymar’s low cross to the Croatian midfielder on the edge of the box.
The sell-out crowd at the Hard Rock Stadium were in for a thrilling night and Madrid fought their way back into the game with Mateo Kovacic drilling expertly past Jasper Cillessen from the edge of the area.
Marco Asensio, starting on the left of Real Madrid’s attack in place of Ronaldo, then started and finished a lightning break to tie the game in the 36th minute.
After a prolonged halftime break with music, lights and fireworks shows more akin to the Super Bowl, the game restarted at the same hectic pace.
Pique sent Barcelona ahead again in the 50th minute by flicking home Neymar's curling free-kick, before the Brazilian missed from close range. Luis Suarez was denied by Navas and Samuel Umtiti had a strike cleared off the line.
Barcelona were dominant and determined not to let their lead slip, with Rakitic even squaring up to referee Jair Marrufo as he protested a decision, showing the stakes were much higher than for a regular friendly.
It was the first time the teams met in a friendly since 1991 and only the second time outside of Spain. Given its success, the spectacle is likely to be repeated.
MVP? Pique
Gerard Pique is awarded MVP. Or Most Valued Player (generally known as man of the match):
�� @3gerardpique, MVP in #ElClásicoMiamipic.twitter.com/jbVSlYzC0T
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) July 30, 2017
92 minutes FULL TIME Real Madrid 2 Barcelona 3
It's all over. Barcelona take the spoils - and the International Champions Cup.
Pique's volley was the difference between the two sides in what was a surprisingly entertaining clash.
⌚️ Final whistle! Baça win #ElClásicoMiami 3-2 ⚽️ Goals from: Messi, Rakitic and Piqué/Kovacic and Asensio �� ���� #ForçaBarçapic.twitter.com/8On44PgVfC
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) July 30, 2017
89 minutes
Real pressing to get the equaliser, but Barcelona's defence is holding firm and snuffing out any chances.
Two added minutes.
84 minutes
Vallejo tries to curl it past Cillessen from distance, but it goes harmlessly wide.
Real running out of time to get back into this.
80 minutes
Another fine save from Cillessen, who's really impressed tonight: a diving block from Isco.
76 minutes
The game has lost some of its earlier fizz with such wholesale changes.
Barca force a corner but fail to threaten from it.
73 minutes
And now six changes for Real.
72 minutes
Barcelona make five further changes - that's ten in total. Neymar is off - could it be the last time we see him in a Barcelona shirt?
He's played very well, despite all the recent focus on him.
69 minutes
Isco plays in Bale, who tries to fizz it across the six yard box. It's deflected for a corner, which is dealt with by the Barcelona back line.
65 minutes
Bale finally sees some action. The Welsh superstar has been quiet tonight, but gets on the end of a long ball - another solid save from Cillessen.
64 minutes
Another chance for Barcelona, but Neymar and Jordi Alba get in each other's way.
61 minutes
Rakitic arguing furiously with the ref and appears to grab him. Lucky not to be shown red there.
Messi is subbed off - with the Hard Rock stadium giving him a standing ovation. Suarez also off.
58 minutes
Another scrambled clearance from Real, who then break quickly. Good save from Cillessen, who gets down well to stop Isco's shot.
Great energy inside the Hard Rock stadium. It may only be the International Champions Cup, but the fans are up for this.
55 minutes
Neymar again with a good chance, albeit from quite far out - but the Brazilian superstar can't find the target.
As with the first half, Barca have started far quicker, Can Real respond again?
54 minutes
Neymar is clean through and once again takes one too many touches.
He sidesteps Navas and with the goal gaping, fires wide.
49 minutes GOAL! Real Madrid 2 Barcelona 3
Pique fires home from a Neymar free kick and Barca are back in front.
Awful defending from Real Madrid, but it was well-taken by the centre-back.
48 minutes
Neymar straight into the action, but tries to beat one too many defender.
The second half has kicked off at the same pace as we left things - this feels much more than a meaningless pre-season friendly.
45 minutes
The stage has been cleared away and we're -finally - ready for the second half.
Mixed response to the Marc Anthony show
Lots of fans were loving it:
my mom is more excited to see marc anthony perform at the classico than watching the actual game ��
— thaniiaa✨ (@thaniiaax0) July 30, 2017
Others weren't so sure:
There is a time and a place for Marc Anthony. This is not it.
— Phil Kitromilides (@PhilKitro) July 30, 2017
The singer was certainly emotional during the performance - his mother died two days ago.
Halftime: Real Madrid 2 Barcelona 2
The fans who have spent thousands of dollars on tickets for this will have little cause for complaint with the first half - four goals and league-level pace.
All the pre-game attention was on Neymar - and the Brazilian has typified the competitive nature of the game so far.
Halftime will be 20 minutes, rather than the orthodox 15 - this is accommodate a Super Bowl-style halftime show, with Marc Anthony performing.
43 minutes
Penalty shout for Messi, who swerves his way into the box.
Casemiro at first look appears to bring him down, but the referee is having none of it - and the replay backs up the decision.
41 minutes
Neymar is this time on the receiving end of a shoulder charge having been played through by Messi.
Barca fail to threaten from the ensuing corner.
35 minutes GOAL! Real Madrid 2 Barcelona 2
Real Madrid level, with a quick break finished clinically by Asensio.
The Spaniard, who scored in the Champions League final last month, started the move deep in his own half and finished well.
34 minutes
Another chance for Neymar. He's played in by Messi, but passes when he should have pulled the trigger.
31 minutes
Incredibly sloppy defending from Real and Messi is clean through.
Navas saves his defenders with a solid block.
28 minutes
Great chance for Neymar.
Busquets plays in Suarez. The Uruguayan does not look 100 per cent fit, but he manages to square it to Neymar in space.
The Brazilian takes one too many touches and fires wide.
25 minutes
Modric and Benzema link up well, but they can't find the final pass.
Neymar, again on the quick break, then threatens for Barca.
23 minutes
Bale has barely had a touch of the ball yet.
21 minutes
Neymar with a mazey run down the left. Beats two defenders and is then taken out by Varane.
Yellow card for the defender.
There's nothing friendly about this.
19 minutes
Benzema goes close for Real, but pulls his shot wide.
17 minutes
Real have finally woken up and are playing their way back into this.
Modric floats over a cross, but it's well dealt with.
13 minutes GOAL! Real Madrid 1 Barcelona 2
Real conjure a goal from nowehere. Kovacic rifles in a loose ball from the edge of the box.
The fans are certainly getting their money's worth here, although the defending is pretty questionable.
13 minutes
Neymar is at the centre of everything so far - and has a tussle with Carvajal. Looked like the Brazilian shoulder charged his rival into the advertising hoarding. He's certainly fired up.
12 minutes
Another chance for Barca.
Neymar dinks it over the top to Suarez, who can't quite control his swiveling volley.
10 minutes
Barcelona controlling possession and create another opening with Rakitic getting onto another ball on the edge of the box.
This time he fires just wide, but it's looking ominous for Real.
6 minutes GOAL! Real Madrid 0 Barcelona 2
Barcelona catch Real cold and go 2-0 up.
Neymar moving more loosely down the left and squares to Rakitic, who fires home from outside the box.
A great start for Barcelona. Real are not switched on at all.
�� 7: Great build up from Barça and Rakitic finishes with a well placed shot from the edge of the box ���� #ElClásicopic.twitter.com/ffSyD7VgwE
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) July 30, 2017
3 minutes GOAL! Real Madrid 0 Barcelona 1
Textbook from Lionel Messi.
He's played through by Suarez, slinks past one challenge and converts via a deflection.
Goal!! Messi scores just 4 minutes into the match #Elclasico ⚽⚽�� @realmadrid 0-1 @FCBarcelona#ElclasicoMiamipic.twitter.com/8lXi8qD4F1
— Med Goha (@Med_Goha) July 30, 2017
3 minutes
Neymar is back on the pitch
1 minute
All eyes on Neymar - and his first touch leads to an injury.
The Brazilian superstar is down, clutching his left foot. He attempted a step-over and seemed to twist his ankle.
Dani Alves encourages Neymar to move to PSG
Dani Alves has encouraged Neymar to make the move to Paris:
It’s an important decision for him and it’s that kind of decision that men have to make, he’s one of my best friends and I always want them by my side, but I can not interfere with your decision.
Security tight ahead of kick-off
Hard Rock stadium is filling up
�� #ElClasicoMiami ¡10 minutos!#RealMadrid �� Barcelona#RMTour#HalaMadridpic.twitter.com/6w5uaIxSyW
— Real Madrid C.F. (@realmadrid) July 29, 2017
In our style we trUSt
�� Hard Rock Stadium (Miami)
���� ‘In our style we trUSt’ ���� pic.twitter.com/jGqnopEZ2n— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) July 29, 2017
Here's the Neymar / Semedo training ground scrap in case you missed it
eymar appeared to storm out of a Barcelona training session on Thursday after an altercation with team-mate Nelson Semedo.
Video from a training session in Miami, where Barcelona are preparing to face Real Madrid on Sunday morning, shows a scuffle between Neymar and Semedo.
Several members of the Barcelona team rush towards the fracas, with Sergio Busquets holding Neymar back when he attempted to return to Semedo after the pair were separated.
Real's kitman's routine
������⏩ #RMTour
Our kitmen are preparing the dressing room before #ElClasicoMiami!
¡Nuestros utilleros ya están preparando nuestro vestuario! pic.twitter.com/BYO2zHTLm9— Real Madrid C.F. (@realmadriden) July 29, 2017
She said yes
�� Hard Rock Stadium (Miami)
She said yes! ��
❤️ #LoveBarça
�� @MiamiDolphins
���� Força Barça! pic.twitter.com/rbEobByHtx— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) July 29, 2017
US fans are out in force
�� Miami
�� Fan Zone ��
❤ Barça Fans
���� #BarçaUSTour
⚽️ #ElClasico
���� #ForçaBarça! pic.twitter.com/l2FbmEg6ST— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) July 29, 2017
Hola Hard Rock stadium
������ #ElClasicoMiami
¡Hola, Hard Rock Stadium!#HalaMadridpic.twitter.com/OIJar31SVa— Real Madrid C.F. (@realmadrid) July 29, 2017
Iniesta urges Neymar to stay at Barcelona
Barcelona captain Andres Iniesta has said he would rather have Neymar at the club than a massive transfer fee, with speculations linking the Brazilian to Paris Saint-Germain in a world record deal, Reuters reports.
PSG have reportedly held discussions with Barcelona about a transfer for the 25 year-old that would smash the world record 89 million pounds ($116.88 million) Manchester United paid for France midfielder Paul Pogba last year.
"I do not think 200-300 million will be more beneficial for Barcelona than having Neymar," Iniesta told a news conference ahead of the pre-season friendly against Real Madrid.
"He is one of the best players in the world and I always want the best players in my team. I have no doubt that we all wish him to continue with us.
"We would like you (the press) to not keep asking (about Neymar) so much, but to end this, there is only one way: Neymar will speak."
Neymar, whose buy-out clause at Barcelona was set at over 200 million euros, cancelled a personal appearance in China next week because he was said to be "busy with transfer business".
Iniesta also confirmed the training bust-up between Neymar and team mate Nelson Semedo on Friday but played it down, saying it only held more significance due to the recent transfer speculations.
"It's true that there was that incident, which can be part of a training session," Iniesta added.
"But because of the situation and what is being said about Ney, which is worldwide, it has much more significance. For those of us who are training however, it's nothing."
TEAM NEWS
Barcelona:Cillessen; Vidal, Pique, Umtiti, Alba; Busquets, Rakitic, Iniesta; Messi, Neymar, Suarez.
TEAM NEWS
Real Madrid: Navas; Carvajal, Ramos, Varane, Marcelo; Casemiro, Modric, Kovacic; Bale, Asensio, Benzema.
Real Madrid vs Barcelona - match preview
They have played Super Bowls, World Series and NBA championships in Miami but on Saturday, one of soccer's great rivalries will be the hot ticket when Real Madrid and Barcelona meet in a rare El Clasico away from Spanish soil.
The match marks just the second time, and first in 35 years, that El Clasico will be played outside Spain. The contest is being given the full Super Bowl treatment with a lavish week-long buildup that includes VIP South Beach parties, celebrity soccer games and even Combate Clasico, an MMA event.
Real Madrid superstar Cristiano Ronaldo will miss the game, organisers confirmed on Friday, robbing the clash of one of its headline players.
But a sellout crowd of over 65,000 is expected at Hard Rock Stadium, home of the National Football League's Miami Dolphins, and resale site StubHub has said the match is the most popular football ticket of the season, with prices reaching $5,500 a seat.
Broadcaster ESPN also has big plans, bringing in 25 on-air commentators for what is reported to be the most comprehensive coverage ever of a single football match staged in the United States.
Anytime Real Madrid and Barcelona appear on the pitch together, it is a guaranteed ratings hit, routinely pulling in a global audience that dwarfs the Super Bowl.
While the match is little more than a glorified friendly, the romance attached to the rivalry elevates it to a far more compelling sporting spectacle.
Matt Higgins, the CEO of Relevent Sports, the company that negotiated the game, speaks of the Clasico as a watershed moment for U.S. soccer.
"To me it represents a pivotal turning point in the ascendancy of global soccer (in the U.S.), the dream of having Real Madrid and Barcelona, arguably the best rivalry in sport," Higgins told Reuters. "To me this represents the trust we have earned over the last couple of years.
"We're not just looking at the match but the entire week as a showcase of just how far global soccer has come in the United States."
Higgins may be guilty of hyperbole, but the enthusiasm for the match is an indication of the appetite for top flight soccer in the country, and particularly for lineups that include some of the world's best players in Lionel Messi, Gareth Bale and Neymar.