ORLANDO, Fla. — A storm delay and persistent rain did not quell the excitement of 63,000 fans at Camping World Stadium in Orlando on Tuesday night for a match between two of the most iconic soccer clubs in the world — Barcelona and Manchester City.
The game lived up to the billing, too, as the score was tied 2-2 at the end of regulation and Barcelona won 4-1 after a post-match penalty shootout.
What You Need To Know
- More than 63,000 fans turned out to see Manchester City and Barcelona play an FC Series friendly match at Camping World Stadium on Tuesday
- The iconic European soccer clubs finished regulation in a 2-2 draw, and Barcelona won a post-match penalty shootout 4-1
- The match was part of the Soccer Champions Tour, which brings international teams to select U.S. cities
- Manchester City and Barcelona play in different leagues, so they don't meet up regularly
Most Central Florida soccer fans rarely get the chance to see the two European soccer clubs play in person, but the Soccer Champions Tour is bringing matchups between international teams to several cities throughout the United States this summer.
Manchester City and Barcelona are in different leagues, so they don’t play against each other often. The last time the two clubs met was in August 2022, and that match ended in a 3-3 draw.
During Tuesday night’s match, Barcelona’s Pau Victor recorded the first goal in the 24th minute. Midfielder Nico O’Reilly tied it up in the 39th minute, but in first-half stoppage time, Pablo Torre put the ball in the back of the net to give Barcelona a 2-1 edge.
In the second half, Jack Grealish pulled Manchester City even at 2-2, and that finished the scoring until the penalty shootout after regulation.
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola is from Spain and played for Barcelona. Before the match, he talked about what it’s like having ties to both programs.
“Always I will be grateful (for) what they give to me, my formation — as a person, as a football player and after that. I was lucky to be a starter, and after that, a manager,” Guardiola said. “So, what I am would not be possible without what Barcelona gave to me.”
While the game didn’t have any major implications for either team in the standings of their individual leagues, it gave fans who normally don’t get to see them a night they will not forget for a long time — despite the inclement weather.
Florida Citrus Sports has brought top European soccer clubs to Central Florida during the sport’s preseason summer window for four years in a row.