Real Madrid 1-2 Barcelona: Pau Victor shines after lightning delays threaten to derail Clasico

Real Madrid and Barcelona played out an entertaining Clasico clash in New Jersey on Saturday which was delayed by over an hour by weather and even saw the ball burst.

It was a lively pre-season run out from the first minute, with both sets of players keen to make an impression on the MetLife Stadium crowd.

However, the weather had the biggest impact in the opening stages as the heavens opened and forced the game to be suspended for over an hour due to the threat of lightning.

When the match eventually resumed, the players wasted no time getting back up to speed, with the likes of new Real Madrid signing Endrick enjoying his first Clasico.

But the young Brazilian whose biggest impact in the first half was bursting the ball after seeing a snapshot blocked by a Barcelona defender as half-time approached.

There was to be a breakthrough before the break, when Robert Lewandowski miscontrolled a cross from deep inside the area but his fumbled touch laned on the head of Pau Victor to nod home from five yards.

A truncated half-time break made sure the momentum was maintained and Victor grabbed his second soon after, sliding in from close range after a fine Alex Valle cross.

Barca were comfortable but VInicius Jr’s introduction changed the tide somewhat in Madrid’s favour, the Brazilian linking up well with compatriot Endrick and coming close to reducing the deficit at a corner only to see a poor touch let him down.

Nico Paz set up a thrilling finale after thundering home a header with eight minutes to go but, almost three hours after it started, the match was finally brought to a close and Hansi Flick took home the spoils in his first Clasico.