Messi scores, Neymar adds 2 assists as Barcelona wins
MIAMI GARDENS — For one night in Miami, soccer was king. In the building crescendo of Saturday night’s preseason El Clasico Miami, in the swelling hype surrounding oneof theworld’s best rivalries, and in FC Barcelona’s 3-2 win over Real Madrid, the sport owned its massive stage.
The two Spanish soccer titans transformed Hard Rock Stadium into a blend of charisma and unpredictability, first with Barcelona’s dominant start, then with Real Madrid’s steady comeback, and finishing with Barca’s winning secondgoal. The crowd of 66,014 witnessed the brilliant magic of Barcelona’s Lionel Messi and the breakaway speed of Real Madrid’s Marco Asensio — inserted into the starting lineup in the absence of star Cristiano Ronaldo.
Gerard Pique scored off a Neymar free kick in the 50th minute to break a 2-2 tie, giving Barcelona a victory in the first Clasico ever played in the United States. The exhibition match in Miami was the first Real Madrid-Barcelona game played outside Spain in 35 years, causing ticket prices to skyrocket for the event and forcing fans to pay hundreds to gain entry.
Messi and Barcelona didn’t wait long to make sure theywere entertained. In the game’s third minute, Sergio Busquets slotted a passat the top of the box to Messi. Messi settled the ball, cut back onto his left foot and — surrounded by three Real Madrid defenders — took aim at goal. His shot ricocheted off a defender and looped over Real Madrid goalkeeper Keylor Navas for the opening tally.
It was Messi on perhaps the grandest preseason stage ever in soccer. It was the Argentine forward immediately stamping his seal on the game. It was him momentarily claiming the night that was supposed to be shared with his main rival.
Ronaldo, winner of three of the past four Ballon d’Or awards as the worldbest player, skipped the game due to a busy schedule that included this summer’s Confederations Cup, a promotional tour in Asia and a tax-fraud hearing on Monday. His absence dimmed the star power in Miami, but did not stop the end-to-end action.
Barcelona midfielder Ivan Rakitic blasted a right-footed laser into the net during the game’s seventh minute. On his first touch on a pass from Neymar, Rakitic stroked a goal that put Barca up 2-0. His goal made the game look like a runaway. Real Madrid made sure it wasn’t.
In the 14th minute, Real Madrid midfielder Mateo Kovacic worked a beautiful give-and-go in the center of the field with teammate Casemiro. Kovacic corralled the ball outside the 18-yard box and dipped a swerving shot past Barcelona goalkeeper Jasper Cillessen.
Asensio tied the game by striking on the counter attack in the 36th minute. Immediately following a Barcelona corner kick, Asensio broke from his own end and streaked down the middle of the field. He sprayed a pass wide to Kovacic, then deftly finished the play by beating Cillessen near-post.
It took 11 seconds for Asensio to gather the ball halfway into his own territory, sprint down the field and net the equalizer.
Between Kovacic’s and Asensio’s goals, Barcelona had chances to extend its lead. In the 30th minute, Messi was stopped as he tried for his second goal. Minutes earlier, Neymar pushed a shot past the right post.
As the first half wound down, Messi lobbied for a penalty kick after he appeared to befouled in the box. Referee Jair Marrufo did not award one. Though the gamewas a friendly match, the two teams combined for four yellowcards.
Even before Barcelona’s early scores, El Clasico Miami brought drama. Neymar, surrounded by recent rumors of a transfer to Paris Saint-Germain, fell to the ground injured just 57 seconds into the game with an apparent foot injury. He exited the game for less than two minutes before returning.
Messi exited the match in the 63rd minute, while Neymar came off in the 73rd.
Saturday’s match capped a weeklong ode to soccer that featured parties and concerts across South Florida. Relevent Sports chairman Charlie Stillitano said 15,000 people attended Casa Clasico — the free fan fest at Bayfront Park on Friday and Saturday.
It was a schedule that more closely resembled a Super Bowl rather than a preseason soccer game. But Barcelona and Real Madrid made the result match the hype.