FC Barcelona won a 3-2 victory over UD Almeria in La Liga before heading to the United States of America to play a mid-season friendly match against Club America in Dallas, Texas. Despite the tight scheduling, with just over 24 hours between matches, Barcelona’s manager, Xavi Hernandez, strategically rotated substantial players. Young players such as Marc Guiu, Pau Cubarsi, Marc Casado, Unai Hernandez, and Hector Fort were given starting positions against the Mexican team.
The match began with Lamine Yamal scoring early for Barcelona, but Julian Quinones of Club America equalized. Marc Guiu then scored for the Blaugrana around the half-hour mark, but Quinones once again levelled the score early in the second half. A late goal from Henry Martin secured a 3-2 victory for Club America, with Barcelona returning home with €5 million from the trip.
Reflecting on the match, Xavi acknowledged the positive aspects of the outing for his players, particularly emphasizing the opportunity for young talents. However, he admitted that some of the starters were fatigued due to their previous match against Almeria.
“We had a great game today,” Xavi commented. “Both Club América and Barça generated great chances. A lot of young players played, that’s positive. Our starters were tired, they played against Almeria yesterday, and today some players were fatigued.”
Xavi emphasized the positivity of scheduling the friendly match for Barcelona, given the need for adaptation and the opportunity to connect with fans in the United States.
“This type of match is positive for Barcelona. The club is in a situation where we have to adapt, in the end, we offer ourselves to the fans in the United States. They always receive us with affection. I think people enjoyed the match today, both those who were in the stadium and those who watched us on TV,” he remarked.
Xavi praised Club America as a formidable team with a commendable coaching approach, acknowledging their recent championship win in the Mexican league. He also commended Rafa Marquez, the manager of Barcelona Atletic, for his excellent work in training young players, despite the challenges presented by their early integration into the first team.
