With the European soccer season set to start at the end of the month, club teams across the continent are gearing up for another demanding 9-10 months.
The international tournaments are behind us, and Saturday night will feature a friendly match between two of the most famous rivals in the sport: FC Barcelona and Real Madrid.
The match will take place at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, starting at 7:00pm ET / 4:00pm PT, and will be broadcast live on ESPN+.
Barcelona vs Real Madrid: Latest Updates from El Clasico Friendly Match in New Jersey
Narrative Update
There isn’t much left to say about the rivalry between Barcelona and Real Madrid. It’s legendary and, in the eyes of many, the most iconic rivalry in any sport. In official matches, Los Blancos lead with 105 wins compared to Barca’s 100. Additionally, there have been 52 draws between the two.
These two clubs dominate LaLiga and have been prominent on the European stage over the past three decades, with Real Madrid often gaining the upper hand. Saturday’s game will see both sides refining tactics and giving as many players as possible some game time.
Several Barcelona players are injured and will miss this game. Frenkie de Jong, Gavi, and Pedri are expected to return before the domestic season starts, but it will be close. Ronald Araujo faces a long recovery that might keep him out until December.
Real Madrid seems to be in good shape overall, which is positive news for the reigning European champions. Fans are eager to see more from Endrick, as the 18-year-old had little impact in Real Madrid’s recent win over AC Milan.