Barca Blaugranes - Barcelona vs Leicester City, Preseason Friendly: All Updates#GraciesTitohttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/47187/barca-fave.png2016-08-04T12:26:38+02:00http://www.barcablaugranes.com/rss/stream/121267492016-08-04T12:26:38+02:002016-08-04T12:26:38+02:00Barça 4-2 Leicester: 3 Things We Learned
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<figcaption>Photo by Nils Petter Nilsson/Ombrello/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>A few takeaways from a comfortable victory against the Premier League champs</p> <p id="Y4pRn9">Barcelona's preseason continues to be successful in terms of results, as the <em>Blaugrana</em> cruised past Leicester City on the way to an entertaining 4-2 victory. Even though they suffered defensively in the opening minutes of the final period, the Catalans mostly dominated the Premier League champions to win a second straight preseason match. Here's a few takeaways from what we saw in Sweden:</p>
<h3 id="MjhE93">1 - Marlon Santos looks like a real talent</h3>
<p id="NGTuiy">The young Barça B center-back was brought to the first two preseason matches since the international defenders were still on vacation, and played a combined 90 minutes across the games against Celtic and Leicester. And he was simply fantastic, especially for a 20-year-old Brazilian who is not really familiar with the <em>Blaugrana</em> system having joined less than a month ago. Marlon showed so much composure on the ball, knowing exactly where to pass and not wasting possession with meaningless clearances, and these are qualities a Barça CB is required to have. More importantly, he's great on his main job as a defender, which very good positioning, decent speed and well-timed challenges and tackles.</p>
<p id="q51oTm">Marlon might be a Barça B defender on loan for a season, but if he continues to play like this, the club might buy him permanently to play in the first team. Good job, kid.</p>
<h3 id="U6Xb49">2 - Sergi Samper is exactly like Sergio Busquets</h3>
<p id="soIyvK">Here's what I mean: every time Samper played in the first team as a <em>pivote</em>, he showed real talent and was able to do every thing his mentor Busquets does in that position. But every time Luis Enrique tested Samper a little further on the pitch as a central midfielder, he struggled to occupy spaces out wide, make more incisive passes, and stay closer to the box to help create chances. These are the same problems Busquets had last season in the few games Lucho tested him in the middle. Just like Busi, Sergi Samper is a <em>pivote</em>, and only that. And that is not at all a bad thing, because if Samper turns out to be like Busi, Barça will have the best defensive midfielder on the planet for the next decade.</p>
<h3 id="vPOT2K">3 - Munir El-Haddadi deserves a chance as the fourth forward</h3>
<p id="Ve8Ma8">Barça fans are very anxious about the board signing a fourth forward to serve as a reliable backup to the 'MSN' trio. But with every chance he gets, Munir gets better. He was great last season whenever called upon to action, and he's using this preseason to prove to Lucho he can be the new Pedro. His decision making is still weird, but it's clear that he respects Messi and Suárez too much sometimes, and that has an effect on his decision making. Not having a fourth forward was not the reason why Barça was knocked out of the Champions League last season, and Munir continues to prove he can fill that slot in the few games where one of the 'MSN' are out. Just let Munir play, people.</p>
https://www.barcablaugranes.com/2016/8/4/12373866/barcelona-leicester-city-2016-champions-cup-3-things-we-learnedRenato Gonçalves2016-08-03T21:54:15+02:002016-08-03T21:54:15+02:00Barça 4-2 Leicester: Recap
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<figcaption>Charles McQuillan/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p style="text-align: justify;"><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.barcablaugranes.com/">Barcelona's</a> preseason continued on Wednesday with another good test, as the <i>Blaugrana</i> faced Premier League champions <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://fosseposse.sbnation.com/">Leicester City</a> and easily won 4-2, thanks to goals from Munir El-Haddadi (2), Luis Suárez and Rafael Mújica, with Ahmed Musa (2) scoring for the Foxes. While preseason results don't matter as much, the Catalans won a second straight match in the International Champions Cup, and this time the team's superstars were able to shine.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><b>FIRST HALF</b></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">From the very first minute, the Catalans established dominance of possession and pinned Leicester in their half. Claudio Ranieri's men like it that way so they can counter-attack, but Barça were safe on defense and the Foxes could not trouble the Catalans. Messi was more of a midfielder, and he bossed the game from that position with fantastic passes, and that is how he created two goals.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Messi first found a very smart run from Munir in behind, and the young Barça striker showed strength and skill to score the first goal. A few minutes later, Messi found Suárez inside the box, and Luisito dribbled pass two defenders before finding the net. Suárez would then record an assist of his own with a fantastic ball over the top to Munir, who easily finished to score his second.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">At halftime, a comfortable, dominant performance to go into the locker room with another victory in the bag.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><b>SECOND HALF</b></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Barça started a little sloppy in the second half and paid for it when Musa ignited a one-man fast break through the <i>Blaugrana</i> defense and finished easily to score Leicester's first goal just three minutes into the period. After about 20 minutes of very few action and plenty of substitutions, Musa once again scored, this time an incredible shot to the top corner after Schlupp got a steal on Juan Cámara.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">The Catalans couldn't play the same way they did in the first half due to a lot of changes, and Leicester's high pressing worked very well to trouble Barça's buildup. Musa continued to cause problems to the <i>Blaugrana</i> defense, and the Foxes looked set to tie the game.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">But it was Barça who put the final nail in the coffin. Mascherano found Alfaro with a great long pass, and after Alfaro's cross, Rafael Mújica picked the ball and opened his first team account with a nice finish.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">In the end, a great first half from the big boys, the kids doing well with their chances in the second half, and another victory. Preseason is going well for the best team in the world.</p>
<p align="center"><img src="http://cdn1.sbnation.com/images/blog/star-divide.v5e9d7f1.jpg" style="border: 5px solid white;"></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><b>Barcelona</b>: Masip (Jose Suárez) | Vidal (Busquets), Marlon (Mascherano), Mathieu (Martínez), Cámara (Nili) | Roberto, Denis (Alfaro), Arda (Samper) | Messi (Aleñá), Suárez (Mujica), Munir (Carbonnel)</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Goals: <i>Munir (26', 45'), Suárez (34'), Mújica (84')</i></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><b>Leicester</b>: Zieler | Simpson (Amartey), Huth (Hernandez), Morgan (Wasilewski), Chilwell (Fuchs) | Albrighton (Kapustka), Drinkwater, King (Mendy), Gray (Schlupp) | Mahrez (Musa), Vardy (Okazaki)</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Goals: <i>Musa (48', 67')</i></p>
https://www.barcablaugranes.com/2016/8/3/12368970/barcelona-leicester-city-2016-champions-cup-final-score-instant-recapRenato Gonçalves2016-08-03T21:53:28+02:002016-08-03T21:53:28+02:0017-year-old Rafael Mujica scores Barca's fourth
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<p>Barcelona have taken their foot off the gas in the second half against Leicester City. After leading 3-0 at half time, Barca relaxed a bit and let the Foxes creep back into the match with two second half goals. However, they have scored a fourth in near full time to polish off an impressive win.</p>
<p>The fourth goal came from an unlikely source as 17-year-old Spanish youth international Rafael Mujica finished off the match in style:</p>
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe src="https://streamable.com/e/jf7y" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen webkitallowfullscreen mozallowfullscreen scrolling="no" style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute;"></iframe></div>
<p><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/soccer/comments/4w0fir/rafa_m%C3%BAjica_scores_against_leicester_city_42/"><i>via r/Soccer</i></a></p>
<p>The Barcelona B hopeful is just happy be on the field, let alone scoring the match-clinching goal against the Premier League champions.</p>
https://www.barcablaugranes.com/2016/8/3/12370638/watch-rafael-mujica-finishes-off-leicester-cityRob Usry2016-08-03T20:56:35+02:002016-08-03T20:56:35+02:00Munir notches first half brace
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<figcaption>David Ramos/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Munir has a first half brace as Barcelona are crushing the Premier League champs, Leicester City, 3-0 at halftime. The young attacker is filling in for Neymar just fine as he has three goals in his last two matches.</p>
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe src="https://streamable.com/e/474y" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen webkitallowfullscreen mozallowfullscreen scrolling="no" style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute;"></iframe></div>
<p><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/soccer/comments/4w04tt/munir_scores_against_leicester_city_30/">via r/Soccer</a></p>
<p>This is a typically brilliant Barcelona team goal. Luis Suarez's amazing long chipped through ball found a streaking Munir to put him in on goal. The youngster poked his finish past the goalkeeper to keep the embarrassment going for Leicester.</p>
https://www.barcablaugranes.com/2016/8/3/12370280/watch-munir-notches-first-half-brace-vs-leicester-cityRob Usry2016-08-03T20:49:25+02:002016-08-03T20:49:25+02:00Suarez gets past 2 defenders, scores great goal
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<p><a href="https://www.barcablaugranes.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Barcelona</a> are throttling the defending Premier League title holders as they now lead Leicester City, 2-0. After Munir gave the La Liga champs a lead, Luis Suarez followed it up with a ridiculous goal. Again, the play started with Lionel Messi's pass to the right flank and then this happened:</p>
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute;" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" src="https://streamable.com/e/evtd"></iframe></div>
<p><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/soccer/comments/4w02mx/l_su%C3%A1rez_scores_against_leicester_city_20/"><i>via r/Soccer</i></a></p>
<p>After receiving the pass, Suarez nutmegged one defender, stumbled/dribbled around another and then toe poked a fantastic finish into the top net for a great individual goal.</p>
<p>Barca are making minced meat of the Premier League champions in every facet of the match. This one could get ugly.</p>
<p>The Pichichi winner looks to be in midseason form and eager to pick up right where he left off of a career year. Can he possibly win it again? We wouldn't put it past him if he can keep up this amazing form when the real matches begin in a few weeks time.</p>
https://www.barcablaugranes.com/2016/8/3/12370040/watch-luis-suarez-dribbles-and-stumbles-around-two-defenders-andRob Usry2016-08-03T20:39:50+02:002016-08-03T20:39:50+02:00Messi sets up Munir for a goal vs. Leicester
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<p>Munir has scored for the second preseason match running. After finishing an easy chance against Celtic on the weekend, his International Champions Cup run got even better with a much more difficult goal against English Premier League winners, Leicester City</p>
<p>It all began with a inch-perfect through ball by <span>Lionel Messi</span> that caught the Leicester City right back barely out of position. Watch here:</p>
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe src="https://streamable.com/e/34z0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen webkitallowfullscreen mozallowfullscreen scrolling="no" style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute;"></iframe></div>
<p><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/soccer/comments/4w00wh/munir_scores_against_leicester_city_10/">via r/Soccer</a></p>
<p>Munir did all so well to get in front of his defender, take a touch, and finish brilliantly past the Leicester goalkeeper for his second goal in as many games. The tally gave <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.barcablaugranes.com/">Barcelona</a> the 1-0 lead about 25 minutes into the first half.</p>
<p>In a battle of two champions of arguably the two best leagues in the world, Barcelona have the early advantage and have looked the better and more dominant side in the early going. They are controlling the play and possession with ease and don't appear to be in danger at the back from the Foxes.</p>
https://www.barcablaugranes.com/2016/8/3/12369878/watch-lionel-messis-perfect-pass-sets-up-munir-for-a-goal-vsRob Usry2016-08-03T19:19:00+02:002016-08-03T19:19:00+02:00Barça vs Leicester: Lineups, Live Thread
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<figcaption>Nils Petter Nilsson/Ombrello/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Live thread with confirmed lineups for Barcelona's ICC game against Leicester City.</p> <div class="m-entry__body" id="article-body">
<p class="pgh-paragraph" id="paragraph0" align="center">2016 International Champions Cup: Round 2<br>Friends Arena, Solna, Stockholm, Sweden<br>Kickoff: Wednesday, 3 August 2016, 20:00 CET<br>Referee: Alejandro José Hernández Hernández</p>
<p class="pgh-paragraph" id="paragraph1" align="justify">Lineups:</p>
<p class="pgh-paragraph" id="paragraph6" align="justify">FC <a data-ref-index="7" class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.barcablaugranes.com/">Barcelona</a>: Jordi Masip; Aleix Vidal, Marlon Santos, Jeremy Mathieu, Juan Camara; Sergi Roberto, Arda Turan, Denis Suarez; Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez, Munir El Haddadi</p>
<p class="pgh-paragraph" id="paragraph7" align="justify">Substitutes: Jose Suarez, José Antonio Martínez, Javier Mascherano, Nili, Jesus Alfaro, Sergi Samper, Sergio Busquets, Carles Aleña, Alex Carbonell, Rafa Mujica</p>
<p class="pgh-paragraph" id="paragraph8" align="justify">Coach: <span>Luis Enrique</span></p>
<p class="pgh-paragraph" align="justify">*****</p>
<p class="pgh-paragraph" id="paragraph2" align="justify">Leicester City: Ron-Robert Zieler; Danny Simpson, Robert Huth, Wes Morgan, Ben Chilwell, Marc Albrighton, Danny Drinkwater, Andy King, Demarai Gray, Jamie Vardy, Riyad Mahrez</p>
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<p class="pgh-paragraph" id="paragraph3" align="justify">Substitutes: Kasper Schmeichel, Marcin Wasilewski, Christian Fuchs, Luis Hernández, Jeff Schlupp, Daniel Amartey, Bartosz Kapustka, Nampalys Mendy, Ahmed Musa, Shinji Okazaki, Leonardo Ulloa</p>
<p class="pgh-paragraph" id="paragraph4" align="justify">Coach: Claudio Ranieri</p>
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https://www.barcablaugranes.com/2016/8/3/12369056/barcelona-vs-leicester-city-2016-champions-cup-confirmed-lineups-liveBostjan Cernensek2016-08-03T13:00:04+02:002016-08-03T13:00:04+02:00Barça vs Leicester: How to Watch
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<figcaption>Photo by Charles McQuillan/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Preseason continues for the Catalan giants against the Premier League champs</p> <p style="text-align: justify;" id="40jiVD">Preseason continues for Barcelona, as the world's best team look to build upon a 3-1 win over Celtic FC last weekend with an exciting friendly match against the biggest surprise of last season, Premier League champions Leicester City.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;" id="GpXRqg">More than two months removed from that historical achievement, it's still hard to wrap the head around what the Foxes accomplished. Leicester took on the entire league in unforgettable fashion, playing an exciting brand of football and taking down every single one of England's giant clubs on the road to a shocking, yet deserved championship.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;" id="2JJFim">Now, the challenge for Claudio Ranieri's men is to prepare for a very difficult season. Leicester hope to repeat as champions against much stronger, improved sides like Manchester City, Chelsea and Manchester United. In addition to a tougher league campaign, the Foxes have a Champions League to play, something nobody expected one year ago.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;" id="LVu5iw">Facing Barça will give Leicester an idea of the opposition ahead in the European Cup, and the Catalan giants will take on an opponent capable of shocking the world week in and week out. Will Leicester counter-attack their way to another improbable victory, or will Barcelona confirm why they're the best team on the planet? This is just a friendly, but it's so good you cannot afford to miss it.</p>
<p align="center"><img style="border: 5px solid white;" src="http://cdn1.sbnation.com/images/blog/star-divide.v5e9d7f1.jpg"></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;" id="86fT4o"><strong>Date/Time</strong>: Wednesday, August 3, 2016, 8pm local time, 7pm BST (UK), 2pm ET, 11am PT (US), 11:30pm IST (India)</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;" id="IwaJMk"><strong>Venue</strong>: Friends Arena, Stockholm, Sweden</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;" id="im5BMF"><strong>Referee</strong>: Shall Be Present</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;" id="CJHrzX"><strong>On TV</strong>: ESPN (US), ESPN Deportes (US - Spanish), TSN2 (Canada), Sky Sports 1 (UK), Sony ESPN (India), TV3, Antena 3 (Spain), <a href="http://www.livesoccertv.com/match/1952626/barcelona-vs-leicester-city/">elsewhere</a></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;" id="8vMR56"><strong>Online streaming</strong>: WatchESPN (US), Sky GO (UK), <a href="http://www.livesoccertv.com/match/1952626/barcelona-vs-leicester-city/">elsewhere</a></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;" id="lv7rPX">(<a href="http://www.livesoccertv.com/match/1952626/barcelona-vs-leicester-city/">Listings via LiveSoccerTV</a>)</p>
https://www.barcablaugranes.com/2016/8/3/12361726/barcelona-leicester-city-2016-champions-cup-online-start-time-tv-listings-live-streamRenato Gonçalves