Barcelona fall 3-2 to America in friendly

Barcelona, fielding a squad of youngsters and on short rest, lost 3-2 on Thursday to Mexico’s America in a friendly match in Dallas, Texas.

A day after grinding out an unconvincing 3-2 La Liga win against basement club Almeria on Wednesday, Barcelona had goals from young Lamine Yamal in the sixth minute and Marc Guiu in the 28th.

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AMERICA DEFEAT BARCELONA

But America, the newly crowned Mexican champions, came from behind with a brace from Colombian Julian Quinones in the 12th and 50th minutes and a final goal from Henry Martin in the 82nd minute to seal the win at the Cotton Bowl.

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Coach Xavi Hernandez used a number of players from Barcelona’s second team but five of the players who started 24 hours earlier — Joao Cancelo, Andreas Christensen, Fermin Lopez, Joao Felix and Robert Lewandowski — also saw playing time.

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XAVI

“It was a great game, both America and Barcelona offered a spectacle, chances, goals and we gave opportunities to young and very young players,” Xavi told broadcaster TUDN. “The older ones… logically, we played a game yesterday and we were tired but I think people enjoyed it.”

The Catalan team, which is going through financial difficulties, will earn some $5 million for the friendly.

“We have to adapt to the economic situation of the club,” Xavi said.

© Agence France-Presse