ARSENAL defeated Barcelona 5-3 while Real Madrid eased past Manchester United 2-0 and Chelsea were held to a 1-1 draw by Newcastle United in pre-season friendly matches in the United States of America in the early hours of today.
At the SoFi Stadium in California, Arsenal, without their record £105m signing Declan Rice, came from behind twice before racing clear of Barcelona to claim the win.
Robert Lewandowski and Raphinha gave Barcelona 1-0 and 2-1 leads in the first half, but Bukayo Saka made it 1-1 and Kai Havertz struck in the 43rd minute to take the game into half-time on level terms.
Barcelona changed the entire starting XI at the restart but Arsenal’s changes were phased and it was the Gunners who dominated the second half in terms of goals.
Leandro Trossard netted twice and substitute Fabio Vieira added another one while Ferran Torres scored a late consolation for Barca as Mikel Arteta’s men got back to winning ways after Saturday’s 2-0 defeat to Manchester United.
At the NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas, Real Madrid scored early in the first half and late in the second half to ease past Manchester United.
The Spanish giants took a cheeky lead in the fifth minute when Jude Bellingham chipped the ball over debuting goalkeeper Andre Onana moments after youngster Kobe Mainoo limped off with an injury.
United had more of the ball but Real Madrid were constantly dangerous in transition and controlled the midfield, with Bellingham, Luka Modric, Edouard Camavinga and Aurelien Tchouameni running rings around Casemiro, Christian Eriksen and the largely anonymous Mason Mount.
As usual there was a raft of changes from both sides in the second half and United improved, but they hardly threatened the Real Madrid defence.
Substitute Joselu scored with a spectacular overhead kick one minute to full-time to give Real Madrid a deserved victory.
In the Premier League Summer Series at the Mercedes Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Chelsea were pegged back by Newcastle United.
New signing Nicolas Jackson shot Chelsea ahead in the 12th minute but Miguel Almiron drew Newcastle United level in first-half added time at the ground where he used to feature regularly for Atlanta United.
In the other Summer Series clash today, Aston Villa defeated Fulham 2-0.
