Goals from Luis Suarez and Sergi Roberto lifted Barcelona to a 2-1 victory over the Los Angeles Galaxy on Tuesday that manager Luis Enrique called an encouraging start to the European Champions’ North American tour.
Uruguay international Suarez came out on top in a clash with former Liverpool team-mate Steven Gerrard — the Galaxy’s latest acquisition from Europe.
His 45th-minute strike and Roberto’s 56th-minute goal ensured that even without such stars as Argentina’s Lionel Messi and Brazilian Neymar — let off the pre-season tour after Copa America duty — Barcelona got the win their dominant performance deserved in front of 93,226 fans at Pasadena’s Rose Bowl.
It was the largest crowd ever to watch a match featuring a Major League Soccer club.
“Based on what a first game of the pre-season looks like, considering we’ve only had about seven days of practice, a lot of traveling, overall I feel very positive,” the coach said.
“Overall, our players look good.”
Barcelona, preparing to defend their La Liga, Copa Del Rey and Champions League treble, effectively neutralized any threat from Gerrard and Galaxy teammate Robbie Keane, while pressing relentlessly themselves.
“I’m happy with the way the team played, with the level, the intensity,” Luis Enrique said, while stressing that “everything can be better.”
Both teams made wholesale changes at the break, with Suarez among the seven Barcelona players to depart and Andres Iniesta and Gerard Pique entering the game.
The changes didn’t slow Barca, with Douglas going close in the 47th minute and Pique testing substitute Galaxy keeper Andrew Wolverton in the 53rd after a pass from Munir.
Barcelona next travel up the coast to take on Manchester United on Saturday at Levi’s Stadium.
Depay off the mark as United win
In San José, Memphis Depay opened his goalscoring account for Manchester United here Tuesday as the Premier League giants eased to a 3-1 victory over the San Jose Earthquakes.
Dutch international Depay, who completed a $38.9 million move to Old Trafford in June, scored United’s second of the night at the Avaya Stadium as Louis van Gaal’s side secured a second consecutive win on their US tour.
Juan Mata and Andreas Pereira scored United’s other goals, with Fatai Alashe adding San Jose’s lone effort.
With former United boss Alex Ferguson amongst an 18,000-capacity sell-out, United eased into their attacking stride quickly.
They created a promising opening after only four minutes when Depay broke forward menacingly before whipping in a low shot which was parried clear by San Jose goalkeeper David Bingham.
