Barcelona Edge Real Madrid In Miami El Clasico

     Barcelona got by Real Madrid 3-2 at Hard Rock Stadium on Saturday night and captured the 2017 International Champions Cup. It was just the second time that both La Liga clubs faced each other in El Clasico outside the country of Spain.
     The game began at a hectic pace as Barcelona scored twice in the first eight minutes on the contest. Lionel Messi began the scoring when he dribbled the ball up the middle of the field and into the penalty area. He placed the ball with a left-footed shot from 10 yards out that was partially deflected into the back of the net during the fourth minute.
     It became a 2-0 lead for Barcelona in the seventh minute. Neymar made a square pass to his right.  Ivan Rakitic stroked a right-footed shot from 18 yards away for a two-goal margin.
     Real Madrid cut into the gap to 2-1 during the 13rd minute. Mateo Kovacic blasted a 20-yard shot with the right foot.
     In the 36th minute, the game was evened up by them. Marco Asensio performed a give-and-go pass with Kovacic on the left side of the penalty area and placed in a 14-yard shot.
     There would be only one goal during the second half of play. Neymar took a direct kick from the left side and sent it to the middle of the penalty area. Gerard Pique then volleyed it in with his right foot from nine yards away for a Barcelona 3-2 lead in the 50th minute.