Ousmane Dembele scores in a 3-0 El Clasico preseason friendly victory for Barcelona vs. Real Madrid in the USA

Barcelona triumphed over Real Madrid with a resounding 3-0 victory in the exciting El Clásico preseason friendly match held in Arlington, Texas, United States. Barcelona, once again, emerged victorious against their arch-rivals in the American soil, having previously won the summer El Clásico matches in 2017 and 2022.

The game saw an early breakthrough by Ousmane Dembélé’s 15th-minute goal, beautifully executed from a set-piece move. This set the La Liga champions on the right track. They sealed the result with two more late goals, including an impressive finish by academy product Fermin Lopez, who was deployed as a central figure in the team’s attacking setup. Real Madrid had several opportunities, but a missed penalty by Vinicius Junior in the first half and a lack of finishing prowess without their captain and top scorer Karim Benzema proved to be their downfall. Saudi Arabia was a far cry from their best.

For Barcelona, this victory came as a welcome relief after their friendly match against Juventus was canceled due to gastrointestinal issues affecting some players, leading to a subsequent 5-3 defeat to Arsenal. Their next matches are against AC Milan on August 2nd and Tottenham on August 8th before kicking off their season against Getafe on August 13th. Having previously secured wins against AC Milan (3-2) and Manchester United (2-0), Real Madrid concluded their preseason with a victorious streak in the prestigious matches. They will face Juventus in Orlando on August 2nd before returning to Spain to start their season.

The final scoreline of the Barcelona vs. Real Madrid clash was as follows: Barcelona 3 – Ousmane Dembélé (Pedri) 15′, Fermin Lopez (Sergi Roberto) 85′, Ferran Torres (Fermin Lopez) 91′ Real Madrid 0

Lineups:

Barcelona First Half (4-3-3, from right to left): 1. Ter Stegen (GK) – 4. Araujo, 23. Kounde, 15. Christensen (24. Eric Garcia, 28th minute); Gundogan (20. S. Roberto 42′), 18. Rômulo – 7. Dembélé (22. Rafinha 66′), 9. Lewandowski, 8. Pedri (29. Fermin 66′).

Barcelona 75th Minute (4-3-3, from right to left): 1. Ter Stegen (GK) – 2. Dest, 23. Kounde, 24. Eric Garcia, 12. Marcos Alonso – 20. Fermin Lopez – 22. Lief, 11. Ferran Torres, 16. Izzi Abde.

Real Madrid (4-3-1-2): 1. Courtois (GK) – 2. Carvajal, 3. Militao, 4. Alaba, 23. F. Mendy (20. F. Garcia 45′) 15. Valverde (10. Modric 58′), 18. Chouameni, 12. Camavinga (8. Kroos 58′) – 5. Benzema (14. Joselu 73′) – 7. Vinicius Junior, 11. Rodrigo (21. Brahim 83′).

Real Madrid missed the presence of Karim Benzema on the day. Vinicius Junior was handed the responsibility of taking the first-half penalty given for a handball in the box by Barcelona, but it was not the most convincing attempt. Questions will arise as to whether set-piece specialist Rodrigo, or even Jùt Biligham before Vinicius, should have taken those duties. However, Vinicius seems ready to take up a significant role for the team and redeem himself for the missed penalty, as it will be a blow to his pride.

Despite missing the penalty and failing to convert two other opportunities, Vinicius was still the standout player for Real Madrid on the field. He will need to continue doing what he does best on the left wing but also make himself available in the box to provide support. Rodrigo and Biligham failed to deliver in this game, and Joselu had only a few minutes (plus a big chance missed). Taking an early lead, Barcelona was well guarded, but it also exposed some finishing issues that might haunt them as they start the season.

In conclusion, Barcelona’s Fermin Lopez capitalized on an unsettled Real Madrid side with late goals, securing the victory for his team. The scoreline certainly impressed Barcelona, but it shed light on some finishing problems that Real Madrid needs to address before the start of the season.

Who is Fermin Lopez?

He is a 20-year-old midfielder who joined Barcelona’s youth setup seven years ago and has spent time on loan with the club’s youth teams, reserve side Barça B, and third-division side Linars. Recently, he featured as a central midfielder in the left and right midfield channels against Real Madrid. Although he couldn’t find the back of the net, Lopez displayed a strong attacking mindset, particularly with his powerful long-range chip shots on target and his ability to take on defenders. He seems to have impressed Alfredo Martinez, and manager Xavi Hernandez confirmed that he will stay with the first team.

Real Madrid’s coach, Xavi Hernandez, praised Lopez after the game, saying, “I like him; I see talent and the final pass. It’s what we were missing in the last third last season.”

Will Barcelona keep Ousmane Dembélé?

It was surprising to see the Frenchman in the starting lineup amid transfer rumors. However, Xavi Hernandez has always talked about his importance as a winger and his significance to the team. Dembélé’s goal came from a challenging set-piece play with a stunning shot from a tight angle, but he also had a one-on-one opportunity that he could have converted. He was the most active attacker that day, especially after quieting Robert Lewandowski.

Barcelona undoubtedly needs him, and for the time he spends apart from game-breakers like Dembélé, the club needs to present him with a mega offer to make the separation worthwhile. No other player in the club possesses his unique blend of talent and pace. If the club struggled in attack last season, it’s hard to say if they will be clearer and even more formidable in the 2023/24 season or not.