Hansi Flick, the newly appointed Barcelona manager, enjoyed a successful debut on Tuesday as his side triumphed 3-2 over Manchester City in a pre-season friendly held in Orlando. The match, which ended in a 2-2 draw after regular time, was settled by a penalty shootout. Barcelona's Toni Fernandez, a recent signing who turned 16 this month, scored the decisive penalty with a left-footed shot past Manchester City's reserve goalkeeper, Stefan Ortega, leading his team to a 4-1 win in the shootout.
The pre-season clash marked the beginning of Barcelona's US tour, where they faced off against the Premier League champions under the guidance of former Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola. The game drew a sellout crowd of 63,237 spectators, although their excitement was momentarily dampened by an 80-minute weather delay. Once the match resumed, the fans were treated to an energetic performance from both teams, with reserve players getting significant playing time.
Barcelona took an early lead in the penalty shootout, with Alejandro Balde scoring a left-footed shot. Despite Manchester City's efforts, including a goal from Amar Ahmed, Barcelona maintained their advantage. Pau Victor had put Barcelona ahead in the 24th minute with a powerful right-footed shot, followed by Nico O'Riley's equalizer for City in the 39th minute. Barcelona's Pablo Torre then restored their lead just before halftime with a well-placed right-footed shot.
The second half saw Jack Grealish equalize for Manchester City with a skillful finish after a fast break. Mateo Kovacic, making his first start on City's US tour, played a crucial role in the buildup to Grealish's goal. Barcelona will continue their US tour with upcoming matches against Real Madrid and AC Milan, while Manchester City, having lost previous matches to Celtic and AC Milan, will conclude their tour with a fixture against Chelsea in Columbus, Ohio.
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