The crowd at Camping World Stadium in Orlando waited an hour and a half for the start of a pre-season clash between Barcelona and Manchester City because of the stormy weather in Florida. However, the waiting in the rain paid off since the fans witnessed a game full of goals that ended with the Catalans’ 4-1 victory on penalties after a 2-2 draw.Neither manager opted for the strongest team. Pep Guardiola included only six senior players in the squad. Ederson, Josko Gvardiol, Jack Grealish, and Erling Haaland were starters, while Mateo Kovacic and Kalvin Phillips came off the bench. On the other hand, Hansi Flick included only somewhat forgotten Clement Lenglet in the starting lineup, while Robert Lewandowski, Inigo Martinez, and Oriol Romeu got the chance in the second half.Guardiola gives a blunt responce to his unhappy starBarca’s took the lead twice – first in the 24th minute and then in the added time of the first period – thanks to the youngsters Pau Victor and Pablo Torre, while City answered through their gem, the 19-year-old Nico O’Reilly. Jack Grealish levelled the score for the final 2-2 an hour into the game.The Catalans were much more focused during the penalty shoot-out, not missing a single spot kick, whereas Guardiola’s boys converted only one out of three. The two teams continue their US tour. Barcelona face their fiercest rival, Real Madrid, on August 4 in New York and AC Milan three days later in Baltimore. As for the Cityzens, they are to play Chelsea on Saturday, in the ultimate test before their first trophy match in the new season – the derby clash against Man United in Community Shield on August 10.##NAJAVA_MECA_8242058##
