Real Madrid were beaten in the Dallas Clásico, but deserved much more in the third game of the pre-season. Our team had the clearest chances of the game and had four attempts that hit the crossbar, one of them from a Vini Jr. penalty, and another that clipped the post.
El Clásico started with plenty of pace and chances for both teams. The first was for Oriol Romeu after four minutes. His powerful volley hit the crossbar. Ancelotti side's response came in the eighth minute, but Rodrygo's shot from inside the box narrowly missed the target. Barcelona took the lead on the quarter-hour mark when Dembélé finished off a strategic move with a cross-shot.
More chances
Real Madrid came very close to equalising in the 20th minute. Valverde crossed and Araujo, in his attempt to clear, handled the ball inside the area. Vini Jr. took the penalty, but his shot hit the crossbar. Our team pressed for an equaliser and this time Ter Stegen kept it out with a save in response to Rodrygo's formidable long-range free-kick in the 32nd minute.
Video.Defeat in the Dallas Clásico
As the minutes ticked by, Ancelotti's men, who had already done enough to score, were again unlucky with a flurry of shots in the 39th minute. Vini Jr. hit the crossbar with his first and Militão, on the rebound, hit the post with a header. A minute later, Dembélé was one-on-one with Courtois, who was on hand to keep out Barcelona's second goal. In stoppage time, Valverde crossed and Rodrygo's shot from just inside the six-yard box was kept out by Ter Stegen.
Five shots against the woodwork
The second half opened at a slower pace and the chances were slow in coming. The first was for Ancelotti's side in the 62nd minute and once again luck eluded the Whites. Tchouameni picked up the ball far from the edge of the area, lifted his head and unleashed a powerful shot that struck the crossbar. The minutes were counting down and Real Madrid were still looking for an equaliser. It could have come in the 83rd minute after a personal move by Vini Jr. that culminated in a close-range shot that grazed the upright. And in the 85th minute, Barcelona widened the gap with a left-footed shot from Fermín López from the edge of the area. There was still time for another shot against the crossbar, the third from Vini Jr. The Brazilian beat two opponents in the 87th minute and his shot again hit the crossbar. In stoppage time, Ferrán Torres scored Barcelona's third goal.
