Hansi Flick enjoyed a successful start to his Barcelona managerial career as the Spanish club defeated Manchester City on penalties in a pre-season friendly.
The match ended in a 2-2 draw before Barcelona triumphed in the shootout.
Hansi Flick’s Barcelona Era Begins with a Win
New Barcelona manager Hansi Flick enjoyed a successful start to his tenure, guiding the Spanish giants to a penalty shootout victory over Manchester City in a pre-season friendly. The match ended in a 2-2 draw before Barcelona clinched a 4-1 win in the shootout, thanks to a goal from teenage sensation Toni Fernandez.
The match marked the beginning of Barcelona’s US tour and pitted them against their former player and coach, Pep Guardiola, who currently manages Manchester City.
Barcelona Kick Off US Tour with Penalty Shootout Victory Under New Manager Flick
New Barcelona boss Hansi Flick got his reign off to a winning start, albeit through penalties, as the Spanish giants edged out Manchester City in a pre-season friendly.
The match, played in Orlando, Florida, saw the score locked at 2-2 after full-time. Teenage signing Toni Fernandez emerged as the hero, converting the winning penalty in a 4-1 shootout victory for Barcelona.
This encounter marked the beginning of Barcelona’s US tour, pitting them against their former manager Pep Guardiola, who currently leads Manchester City.
Thrilling Encounter Despite Weather Delay:
A sell-out crowd of over 63,000 witnessed a dramatic encounter, albeit delayed by an 80-minute storm. Both teams started strong before giving ample playing time to their reserves.
Youngsters Shine in Back-and-Forth Match:
Barcelona initially took control in the penalty shootout thanks to Alejandro Balde’s successful attempt. Manchester City wouldn’t go down without a fight, with Amar Ahmed pulling them back into contention. This set the stage for 16-year-old Fernandez’s winning penalty.
Earlier in the match, the young guns continued to impress. Pau Victor opened the scoring for Barcelona with a powerful right-footed shot, while Pablo Torre doubled their lead just before half-time. Manchester City fought back with goals from Nico O’Riley and Jack Grealish, the latter showcasing his pace and finishing skills.
Barcelona’s US Tour Continues:
Barcelona will continue their US tour, facing Real Madrid and AC Milan in upcoming friendlies. Meanwhile, Manchester City, who previously lost to Celtic and AC Milan during the tour, will wrap up their trip with a match against Chelsea in Columbus, Ohio.
