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FC Barcelona
Lewandowski during the preseason with Barça

BARÇA COULD NOT BEAT MILAN

Lewandowski led the comeback of a FC Barcelona that ended up losing on penalties against Milan (2-2)

Published:7/08/2024 - 03:53h

Updated:7/08/2024 - 03:56h

FC Barcelona closed its American tour with an entertaining match against AC Milan. The duel was very open in the first half, with two Rossoneris goals in the opening quarter of an hour. However, Barça reacted with a double from Lewandowski, although they ended up losing on penalties

Calendar of FC Barcelona

FC Barcelona played its third and final friendly of the summer at the M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore against AC Milan (2-2). Hansi Flick's men once again left many doubts in defense, but they are beginning to find the offensive verticality that the German coach likes so much. With the centre-back pair from the duel against City back (Lenglet and Sergi Domínguez) and Andreas Christensen back in the pivot position, Barça sought to take center stage from the start. Despite the initial disadvantage, there was a reaction and good feelings in attack, especially due to the scoring awakening of Robert Lewandowski.

The match began with intense culé high pressure. Ílkay Gündogan looked very participatory in the first minutes, taking the initiative in each Barça advance and with Raphinha stepping into the area on a couple of opportunities, although without much clarity. Álex Valle also played very advanced, who continually arrived as a winger from the right. The first clear one was for Barça, with a good combination between Gündo and Lewandowski wasted by the '11' thanks to the quick departure of defender Saelemaekers.

Double blow for Milan in the opening quarter of an hour

However, the 'Rossoneri' team struck first in the 10th minute. Good triangulation by the Italians on the left allowed Cristian Pulisic to set up Luka Jovic. The former Real Madrid only had to push it on goal in a play in which Gerard Martín failed on the side and Sergi Domínguez, easily anticipated by the Serbian striker. The match took on a frenetic pace with the opening of the score, with both teams advancing lines and betting on long balls.

This favored Milan, who took advantage of the speed of Rafael Leao to do damage on the left. In the 15th minute, the Portuguese filtered a great pass to Pulisic, who anticipated Valle and Casadó to shoot Ter Stegen with a powerful shot. The American seemed to want to cross to the other post, but ended up taking an unstoppable left foot shot. Despite the double blow, Hansi Flick's men continued attacking and did not take long to react.

Quick reaction from a very vertical Barça in Baltimore

Raphinha came close to scoring again in the 18th minute, but Torriani excelled with a save after the Brazilian's cross shot. Lewandowski had assisted him and was very close to catching the rebound with a failed overhead kick. The Pole had revenge in the 22nd minute, beating the Italian goalkeeper with a right hand from mid-distance, after a pass from the '11'. A couple of minutes later, the Porto Alegre man once again demanded from Milan's '96' with a shot similar to his previous chance, this time wasting a great pass from Casadó.

Torriani continued with his recital of saves in the 28th minute, saving a great header from 'Lewy' on the line from a cross from Álex Valle. The Barça dominance continued until the hydration break, while Milan tried to slow down the match in the final stretch of the first half. Samuel Chukwueze came close to the third in the 39th minute, taking advantage of Lenglet's slowness, but the winger shot wide. Before the break, Leao appeared again, dribbling past Valle at will, but Ter Stegen saved in time to avoid further damage. Seconds before, Pau Víctor had converted it into a clear offside, following an assist from Lewandowski with a cue.

Lewandowski equalized after a great team play

Hansi Flick made three changes at half-time: Jules Koundé, Marc Bernal and Quim Junyet came on for Álex Valle, Christensen and Gündogan. For his part, coach Paulo Fonseca chose to give Rafa Leao a rest so that Ismaël Bennacer could enter, while Davide Calabria came in for Luka Jovic. Barça started the match better, having a couple of chances from set pieces. The good pressure of Pau Víctor and Junyent created problems in the 'Rossoneri' defense, while Koundé did the same very advanced on the right.

As the minutes passed, the game became less intense compared to the first half. Milan tried to sustain the result by betting on inconsequential possession that led to several losses at the start. Barça, for its part, pressed in the opposite field, although with little lucidity to find spaces. In the 55th minute, a good long cross from Marc Bernal caught Víctor free at the far post, but the '8' failed to hit and the ball was loose in the area after Torriani's clearance, without finding a finisher.

At the hour mark, a good triangulation between Bernal, Raphinha and Pau Víctor allowed the culés to equalize the match. With three precise touches, the striker of the reserve team was able to assist 'Lewy' first with a great technical gesture, leaving the '9' totally alone to push it towards the goal. Immediately afterwards, Ter Stegen and Lenglet gave their place on the field to Iñaki Peña and Iñigo Martínez. Milan also made two more changes, but the culés continued to dominate and, in the 63rd minute, Raphinha again demanded Torriani with a volley that the '96' cleared into the corner.

Barça failed to break the tie in the final stretch

Paulo Fonseca's men forgot to attack after 2-2, while the culés easily found space on the sides in the Milan defense. Gerard Martín and Pau Víctor left good flashes of quality before leaving. Flick gave minutes to Vitor Roque, Guille Fernández, Mika Faye and Andrés Cuenca in a window in which Raphinha and Lewandowski also left. In the final stretch there was little to highlight as a result of the multiple variations, as usually happens in friendlies.

The penalties gave the victory to Milán

As in the duel against City, the culés had to wait for the penalty shootout to define the winner. Koundé and Quim Junyet missed the first two Barça charges, but Bennacer and Kalulu also missed for the Italians. Adli scored the fifth, as did Vitor Roque. In sudden death, Zeroli got it right and Mika Faye missed against Torriani, sentencing the final 3-4.

Match details: FC Barcelona 2-2 AC Milan

  • FC Barcelona: Ter Stegen (Iñaki Peña, min. 61); Álex Valle (Koundé, min. 45), Sergi Domínguez (Andrés Cuenca, min. 78), Lenglet (Iñigo, min. 61), Gerard Martín (Mika Faye, min. 78); Casadó, Christensen (Marc Bernal, min 45); Pau Víctor (Antonio Fernández, min. 88), Gündogan (Quim Junyent, min 45), Raphinha (Guille Fernández, min. 78) ; Lewandowski (Vitor Roque, min. 79)
  • AC Milan: Torriani; Saelemaekers, Tomori (Gabbia, min. 78), Thiaw, Terracciano (Alejandro Jiménez, min. 78); Loftus-Cheek (Zeroli, min 88), Yunus Musah (Yacine Adli, min. 62); Chukwueze (Hugo Cuenca, min. 78), Pulisic (Okafor, min. 62), Rafa Leao (Ismaël Bennacer, min 45); Luka Jovic (Davide Calabria, min. 45)
  • Referee: Víctor Rivas.
  • Incidences: corresponding Party to the third friendly of turns it American of Pre-season 2024.
  • Goals of the party: 0-1, Luka Jovic (min. 10); 0-2, Pulisic (min. 15); 1-2, Lewandowski (min. 22); 2-2, Lewandowski (min. 58)

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