PEP GUARDIOLA got one over his old rivals as his Manchester City side kick-started their preparations for the new season.
In the breath-taking Los Angeles Coliseum, Pep’s men put the Champions League winners to the sword with three goals early in the second half.
It was only a pre-season friendly but it must have felt sweet for the ex-Barcelona coach.
More than 93,000 looked on as Kevin de Bruyne took the game by the scruff of the neck after the re-start – having a hand in three goals.
Nicolas Otamendi, Raheem Sterling and John Stones were all on the mark – before teen ace Brahim Diaz added a fourth.
And new £35 million keeper Ederson Moraes also had a good night with a string of decent saves.
Wales hero Gareth Bale was voted the player most Real Madrid fans would sell to make way for Kylian Mbappe in newspaper AS.
But he could have proved a few of his doubters wrong as he blazed over the bar in the opening couple of minutes.
MOST READ IN FOOTBALL
City were making chances of their own with Gabriel Jesus denied on a couple of occasions by Kaylor Navas.
The Madrid keeper also spread himself to deny Aguero after some super work by De Bruyne to open things up.
Record-breaking keeper Ederson was beaten by Casemiro’s header but it came back off the post and the Brazilian keeper saved Karim Benzema’s follow up.
Chances had come and gone for both sides throughout the half – no wonder these two are competing to sign Monaco’s £161 million rated Kylian Mbappe.
Soon after the re-start, a John Stones header was only parried by sub keeper Kiko Casilla and Nicolas Otamendi fired home the rebound.
Raheem Sterling had already wasted one good chance when he was put through by De Bruyne just before the hour.
This time the England man made no mistake as he burst clear and beat Casilla comfortably.
De Bruyne was pulling the strings and saw a free-kick tipped onto the post before rolling back for John Stones to fire in a third.
Sub Leroy Sane almost added a fourth when he hit the post soon after coming in.
But teen Spaniard Brahim Diaz scored a memorable fourth as he jinked on the edge of the box before blasting a left footed shot into the top corner.
With the last kick of the game Oscar Rodriguez fired a looping shot over sub keeper Daniel Grimshaw - but nothing could take the shine off City's night.
Leave a comment