• Match review

Barcelona 3-3 Man City: Mahrez scores last-minute equalizer in Camp Nou friendly

Mahrez at Man City
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A charity game saw Xavi Hernandez’s side take on their English counterparts on home soil.

Barcelona drew 3-3 with Manchester City in a charity game on Wednesday. Pep Guardiola returned to Camp Nou to face his former player in a mid-week match.

Both sides started the game with several changes to their lineup.

Xavi handed Jules Kounde his first Barcelona appearance while the likes of Raphinha and Ferran Torres also started for the Catalans.

For City, Cole Palmer, Sergio Gomez, and Rico Lewis were the youngsters who earned spots in Guardiola’s starting XI.
The Premier League champions found a better start to the game and opened the scoring in the 21st minute.

Following a crazy howler from Barcelona goalkeeper Inaki Pena Sotorres, Julian Alvarez nodded home from close range to put City ahead.

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However, only nine minutes later, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang equalized the match for the hosts. Barca kept attacking after the goal but had to wait until the hour-mark to score their second goal.

A half-cleared ball found Frenkie de Jong inside City’s box before the midfielder smashed it past Stefan Ortega to make it 2-1.

Cole Palmer scored the game’s second equalizer only four minutes later. However, Memphis Depay put Barcelona ahead, once again, in the 79th minute.

The Catalans seemed to be on their way to winning the game. But City earned a late penalty to escape the defeat.

Riyad Mahrez converted the spot-kick in the ninth minute of the added time, with no time being left for either side to change the result.

Barcelona will now prepare to meet Valladolid in their next La Liga game on Sunday, while City must host Southampton a day earlier.

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