Ansu Fati’s goal helped Barcelona beat AC Milan 1-0 in Las Vegas (Nevada) on Tuesday in their final preseason game in the United States, with Osman Dembele did not play.
The only goal of the matchup was Ansu Fati’s superb 55th-minute shot into the top corner at Allegiance Stadium, home of the NFL Las Vegas Raiders.
After scoring the goal, the young striker ran to hug Dembele, who sat on the bench in what could be his last game as a Barca player, but he was not in the team’s uniform.
According to the paper, the Frenchman has agreed an agreement with PSG to pay the winger’s release clause in the coming days if he does not agree to a move to Barcelona.
In addition to “mosquitoes”, Ivory Coast midfielder Frank Kessie (a Barca starter) and young Garvey (who coach Xavi Hernandez said last week had back problems) were not wearing shorts.
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Xavi, who had tried to persuade Dembele to stay at Barcelona, made seven changes to the starting line-up for Saturday’s 3-0 win over Real Madrid in Arlington (outside Dallas, Texas).
A young Fermin Lopez grabbed the headlines as he shone with goals and assists against Madrid.
In front of some 38,000 fans (slightly more than half capacity), Barca and Milan staged a lethargic first half, with the Catalans once again in white, Jules 12th minute. Jules Kounde’s shot hit the post with hardly any clear chances.
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The Spanish league champions have progressed under Xavi’s five coaching changes, including Robert Lewandowski and Frenkie de Jong.
Young players Alejandro Balde and Ansu Fati also came on as refreshers and combined to attack the first goal of the clash.
Full-back Balde launched an explosive run down the left wing and passed the ball to Ansu Fati near the penalty area, who sliced through the defenders and fired a powerful shot towards the opposing team.
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Ansu Fati himself enjoyed Barca’s best scoring chance, while Dutchman Tijani Reynders wasted a free-kick in the center of the box for Milan after a fine individual display from Portuguese Rafael Leao.
Barcelona, who returned to Spain after the game, ended their pre-season tour with two victories against Milan and Madrid and a 5-3 loss to Arsenal.
The scheduled fourth game against Juventus was called off after a gastroenteritis outbreak affected most of the Catalan squad.
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line-up:
FC Barcelona: Inaki Pena-Ronald Araujo (Alex Garrido, 85), Eric Garcia (Mica Faye, 85), Jules Quin De (Serginio Dest, 68), Marcos Alonso (Alejandro Balde, 46; Alex Valle, 85) – Oriol Roo Meu (Marc Casado, 80), Pedri (Sergi Roberto, 46), Fermin López (Frankie de Jong, 46) – Rafinha (La Min Yamal, 68), Ezi Abboud (Ansu Fati, 46) and Ferran Torres (Robert Lewandowski, 46). DT: Xavi Hernandez.
AC Milan: Mike Mignan – Alessandro Florenzi (Pierre Carurulu, 64), Malik Thio (Simon Kjaer, 73), Fica Yo Tomori (Alexis Salemax, 86), Theo Hernandez (David Buttersaghi, 80) – Ruben Loftus-Cheek , Rade Krunic (Tommaso Pobega, 73), Tijjani Reijnders – Christian Pulisic (Luka Romero, 73) , Olivier Giroud, Rafael Leao. DT: Stefano Pioli.
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