New York Red Bulls vs Barcelona

Red Bull Arena is the venue as New York Red Bulls and Barcelona go head-to-head in their first-ever pre-season meeting.

New York Red Bulls come into this encounter off the back of a humiliating 5-1 defeat to Orlando City in the US Open Cup. New York’s dismal spell of form has seen them win just one of their last four outings (D1, L2), netting under 1.5 goals in all three matches they didn’t win. But before succumbing to a narrow 1-0 loss to cross-town rivals New York City in their most recent home fixture, they had won five consecutive home games, netting 2+ goals on each occasion. That, coupled with the fact they have not conceded more than once across their last six home contests, suggests they won’t roll over against more heavily fancied Barcelona.

In the meantime, a raft of high-profile summer signings, including Raphinha, Robert Lewandowski, Franck Kessie & Jules Kounde, has inspired Barcelona’s solid pre-season showings. Before drawing 2-2 with Juventus last time out, the ‘Blaugrana’ had won their opening two United States Tour fixtures by an aggregate score of 7-0, including a 6-0 thumping of New York’s fellow MLS rivals Inter Miami. Overall, Xavi Hernandez’s men have picked up three victories from five pre-season outings this summer (D2), averaging 2.6 goals per game. That’s a noticeable upturn in form compared to the tail-end of last season, where Barcelona went winless in their final two La Liga matches without scoring (D1, L1).