Barcelona finished their preseason tour to the USA with a 2-2 draw against AC Milan, following a draw with Manchester City and a win over Real Madrid. Once again, Pau Victor played a starring role.
Hansi Flick’s side pressed high without much joy early on, and the Rossoneri struck first, with Christian Pulisic finding Luka Jovic at the back post for a tap-in after 10 minutes. The Blaugrana were struggling to live with Rafael Leao and Samu Chukwueze at this point, but it was Pulisic orchestrating, and he converted Leao’s assist for the second.
LEWANDOWSKI! FIRST GOAL OF THE PRESEASON! 💥#BARÇAMILAN 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/4aKhraBtW9
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) August 7, 2024
Barcelona did react though, continuing to press, and finding increasingly more joy. It was during one of those occasions that Robert Lewandowski was set in front of goal, and he punished the defence for backing off with a shot into the corner. Barcelona also had a goal disallowed after lovely interplay between Victor and Lewandowski.
Which do you like better, the goal or the assist?
Pau Víctor → Robert Lewandowski pic.twitter.com/WF8BOECnno— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) August 7, 2024
It was a sign of things to come though. Raphinha tested Lorenzo Torriani down to his left, while Lewandowski and Victor efforts would follow. It was a Raphinha ball in behind that found Victor in behind just before the hour-mark, and he clipped a lovely assist into the path of Lewandowski to finish into an open goal.
Victor would then nutmeg Alexis Saelemakers twice in the following ten minutes, and continued to run like a demon. On the night, he was the best in Blaugrana alongside Marc Casado, who was similarly tireless but also smart.
💭 Stop that Pau Victor!
— Barça Spaces (@BarcaSpaces) August 7, 2024
With the changes coming thick and fast in the final half hour, including for Lewandowski and Raphinha, Barcelona continued to have more of the game without creating much danger. It ended 2-2 with a penalty shootout crowning Milan winners.
