BARCELONA stumbled to an embarrassing defeat in a baffling mid-season friendly against Mexican side Club America.
The Spanish giants were paid £4.3Million to play in Dallas, Texas just 30 hours after a La Liga clash.
GettyBarcelona faced an embarrassing defeat against the Mexican side Club America[/caption]
APClub America beat Barca 3-2 at the Cotton Bowl Stadium in Dallas[/caption]
After making a quick hop across the Atlantic Barcelona lost 3-2 against the Liga MX Champions at the Cotton Bowl on Thursday night.
Just a day before the match the Catalan giants beat Almeria 3-2 after Raphinha‘s first goal and Sergi Roberto’s double strike.
Manager Xavi may have revealed one of the reasons why his short-of-cash side played the fixture in the States.
Earlier this week he said Barca are being paid £4.3million to play the game.
With their hectic schedule, Xavi heavily rotated his team against Club America – with six teenagers in the starting XI.
To open up the scoring six minutes in 16-year-old Lamine Yamal struck the back of the net.
But Club America did not take long to find their feet as Mexican international Julian Quinones backheeled the ball into the net six minutes later.
Hector Fort’s cross was then successfully shot between the sticks by fellow academy star 17-year-old Marc Guiu for Barca to regain the lead.
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But after halftime, things took a turn for the worse as Quinones had one more strike to equalise the game.
And to Barca’s misery, an 82nd-minute goal from Henry Martin stripped Xavi’s side of a victory.
The Spanish side will not return to La Liga action until January 4th against Las Palmas.
Currently, in the third spot seven points behind Girona and frontrunners Real Madrid, Barcelona have some catching up to do in the new year if they want to be in the running for the league title.
GettyTeenager Lamine Yamal opened the scoring for the Spanish giants[/caption]