The games begin
Run-up to Saturday’s El Clasico kicks off.
MIAMI GARDENS — The vision that Joe Robbie conceived and Steve Ross advanced into the 21st century, of world-class soccer in a setting worthy of it in South Florida, was on display Wednesday night at Hard Rock Stadium.
Thatwas the main takeaway from the first of two matches this week in the International Champions Cup, an event Ross created in large part to showcase his rebuilt stadium when his Dolphins and Miami’ s Hurricanes aren’t engaged in the other version of football.
The encounter between France’s Paris Saint-Germain and Italy’s Juventus was essentially an undercard for Saturday’s much-anticipated first El Clasico to be staged in the United States.
That will pit two of the most famous sides in soccer, Spanish powers FC Barcelona and Real Madrid, in a tradition-rich rivalry spanning 266 meetings over the better partof a century.
It’s about as big as it gets in the sport when the World Cup is not at stake.
There have been other prestigious foreign teams playing to impressive crowds in recent years at the Rock. But now the $500 million transformation of
the venue over the past three years is complete to one that resembles some of the soccer palaces in other parts of the world with the partial roof and the stands set close to the action.
More big-time soccer is coming. According to a source, the Brazilian national team will make another appearance in November against an opponent to be determined.
Wednesday had the trimmings of a big event without a lot really being at stake. For all the teams competing, the ICC is a glamorous preseason tour staged on three continents, including eight of Europe’s finest playing 12 matches across the U.S.
“Well, I think it’s good competition. I think it’s top clubs and we try to do the best,” PSG defender Yuri Berchiche said on the eve of the match.
Paris Saint-Germain and Juventus are heavyweights in their own right. PSG is the best team in France. Juventus will claim that status in Italy if it prevails Sunday against AS Roma at Foxborough, Mass., so this was a tune-up for higher stakes for them.
Last season, Paris Saint-Germain pulled off a shocker that rattled the UEFA Champions League in humbling Barcelona 4-0, though the proud Spanish side rebounded with a 6-1 thumping in the rematch.
Wednesday’s crowd wasn’t as animated as when South American powerhouses have visited, or can be expected for Saturday’s sellout. They did get the Wave circling the packed lower bowl midway through the first half as PSG and Juve were attempting to assert momentum on the pitch.
There was plenty of excitement moments before halftime when Juve’s Gonzalo Higuain took a pass in stride from Paulo Dybala through a seam in the defense and put a right-footed shot past PSG keeper Alphonse Areola into the left corner of the net.
Then in the 53rd minute an equalizer goal by Gonçalo Guedes, off a rebound of a shot by Angel Di Maria got the crowd chanting “PSG, PSG.”
It kept alive Paris Saint-Germain’s streak of never being shut out in an ICC match.
But Juventus retained the lead in the 61st minute.
Much of the focus leading up to the match centered on PSG’s attempt to lure Brazilian star forward Neymar away from Barcelona with amega deal.
Not so fast, Neymar was in Landover, Md., Wednesday scoring the only goal in Barcelona’s win against Manchester United.
Nonetheless, the action was spirited and entertaining, with Juventus forcing the issue early, though PSG’s Edinson Cavani had a goal disallowed for offside and di Maria had a strong chance batted away by Juve keeper Gianluigi Buffon early in the half.
All in all, a worthy appetizer
for the Spanish main dish to be served Saturday. Just theway Joe Robbie envisioned it some 30 years ago.