This weekend saw an El Clasico on foreign soil, as Real Madrid and Barcelona went head to head in a preseason friendly at the impressive MetLife stadium in front of a packed out crowd. A natural fit for our ‘Framed’ series.
In just under two years time, the 82,500-capacity MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey will play host to the ultimate footballing showpiece when the 2026 World Cup final rolls into town. For now though, locals had to content themselves with, oh, just an El Clasico of all games, as Real Madrid – who’s preseason prep continues under our own watchful eyes – took on their eternal La Liga rivals Barcelona in what was a stormy preseason clash – although not the stormy you may have in mind for this type of meeting.
When you think of El Clasico, you think of some of the world’s biggest superstars going head-to-head, of pig’s heads being launched onto the pitch, of red cards and passion over flowing… while that may be the normal order of play for a regular season match between Real Madrid and Barcelona (OK, minus the pig head stuff, that’s not necessarily the norm), this preseason game wasn’t quite up to that standard yet, as both teams continue to get up to speed ahead of the big kick off.
No, for the fans, this one was more about the spectacle. With Madrid shirts intermingled with Barca shirts in the crowd, epitomising the “friendly” nature of the game, the gods helped with the atmosphere and the epic nature of such a clash, serving up some weather that was apt for the occasion – so much so that the game had to be temporarily postponed after just 12 minutes. But after a delay of more than an hour, the action resumed, and it didn’t disappoint. Barcelona took the lead just before half-time when 22-year-old forward Victor was able to nod in from close range. He then doubled his tally and Barca’s lead shortly after the break, before Nico Paz was able to bullet home a header as he arrived completely unmarked in the box. But Madrid couldn’t add further, and it leaves them with two losses from two so far in their preseason. What you wouldn’t give for a Mbappe or Bellingham, eh? Chelsea next for Los Blancs, while Barca face AC Milan.
Photography by Sharon Lopez for SoccerBible.
