23 July 2017
Giorgio Chiellini’s second-half header was not enough to prevent the Bianconeri from falling to a 2-1 reverse in their first match of pre-season, as Neymar’s brace saw Barcelona seal victory at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
A high-tempo first half quickly saw chances fall to both sides: Gianluigi Buffon made a smart save on Neymar’s blistering effort just one minute before Mario Mandzukic headed inches wide from Stefano Sturaro’s cross.
On the quarter-hour mark however, Neymar put the Blaugrana in front after finishing off a one-two move and just 11 minutes later, the Brazilian capped off a fine solo run with his and Barca’s second goal of the evening.
Massimiliano Allegri handed Bianconeri debuts to Wojciech Szczesny and Mattia De Sciglio after the break (Rodrigo Bentancur made his maiden Juve appearance from the first whistle), but it was when Paulo Dybala, Gonzalo Higuain, Douglas Costa, Juan Cuadrado and Alex Sandro came on after the hour-mark that the tide began to swing in the Old Lady’s favour.
Dybala unleashed a stinging drive that opposition keeper Jasper Cillessen had to tip around his far post, but Giorgio Chiellini nodded powerfully home from the resulting corner. Game on again.
On 76 minutes, Juve might and perhaps should have drawn level when Higuain lifted Alex Sandro’s cross over the bar from the edge of the area.
Barca stepped up a gear in the final ten minutes however and Szczesny would need to make a fine block on Luis Suarez to prevented Ernesto Valverde’s men from adding a third.
Allegri and company will now turn attentions to their second match of this summer tour when they face Paris Saint-Germain in Miami on Wednesday 26 July.
