Barcelona vs Manchester United

Steep ticket prices and metro cars packed like sardines didn’t dissuade 82,000 DC area soccer fans from taking advantage of the opportunity to see the best two soccer teams in the world play a “friendly” match at FedEx Field in Landover, Md on Saturday night.  I managed to get a relatively “reasonably” priced ticket a few days before the game and was one of the 82K in attendance.  Fan behavior at this game was nothing like what I experienced at a DC United game earlier this year (See blog from May 22).  Fans of both teams wearing team jerseys enthusiastically cheered and sang throughout the game and there was very little getting up for snacks during the course of play.  Perhaps this game drew out the more sophisticated soccer fan, or maybe it was the price of the tickets that motivated everyone to see as much of the action as they could. 

Being a friendly game, many unfamiliar numbers dotted the field in the starting lineups for both teams.  Lionel Messi, the consensus top player in the world, did not suit up for Barca since he needed rest from recent Argentina national team play.  However stars like Andres Iniesta and David Villa played most of the game for the Spanish team and they were a joy to watch.  Likewise, Man U’s most famous player, Wayne Rooney played the first half at his striker position and Portugese midfielder Nani was on the field for most of the match.  My neighbor in the seat next to me was disappointed with the absence of all the superstars, but I wasn’t.  Even the second stringers on these two clubs possess world class skill.

As in most games, Barca controlled the ball and time of possession with precision passing and trapping that looks even more impressive in person.  United’s defense was stout however, and few scoring opportunities were created.  Nani opened the scoring for the English side after 22 minutes when he found room on the left wing and shot the ball between the keeper’s legs.  The one goal lead held until halftime and Barcelona increased the pressure as the second half began.  My son and I shared several texts during the game and he pointed out Barca midfielder Thiago who is only 20 years old as a player to watch.  Several minutes later, making my son look clairvoyant, Thiago evened the score with a bullet into the upper 90 from about 25 yards out.  The partisan crowd (about 60-40 for the Spanish team) in the stadium erupted and the game opened up.  A midfield mistake by Barca at the 76 minute mark resulted in an intercepted pass and Man U had a 2 on 1 break.  Tom Cleverly fed Michael Owen who barely remained onside and the striker put the Red Devils up with a classy chip over the onrushing keeper.  The 2-1 score held to the end and while the victory pales in importance to their loss to Barcelona in May’s European Champions’ League final, it should give the English club some confidence as it prepares for the upcoming EPL season and next year’s Champions league campaign. 

Watching these two great teams live was definitely worth the effort and it’s good that the emergence of soccer as more of a mainstream sport in America now provides opportunities for soccer fans to occasionally see the world’s best players without traveling overseas.  A sellout crowd in the home of the Redskins doesn’t hurt either.