Barcelona faced the Argentine side in a friendly match to pay tribute to the football great.
Barcelona faced Boca Juniors in the Maradona Cup at the King Saud University Stadium in Saudi Arabia. The Catalans mostly used their second team for the lineup but had several substitutes during the game.
22-year-old midfielder Ferran Jutlga Blanc scored the opener for the Blaugrana in the 50th minute. However, Boca got the equalizer through Exequie Zeballos’ strike 20 minutes later.
The game went to penalties after a 1-1 draw in the regular 90 minutes. The Argentine side converted four penalties while Guillem Jaime and Matheus Pereira failed to score for Barcelona.
Boca Juniors claimed the Maradona Cup after winning the penalty shoot-outs. The Argentine great, who passed away last year, joined Barca from Boca in 1982. Later on, he ended his career in Boca after a return in 1995.
Barcelona registered their third defeat in seven games under Xavi Hernandez. The Catalans continue to struggle for form as they sit eighth in La Liga.
Following their return to Spain, Barcelona will prepare to face Elche in their next league game on Saturday. Xavi’s side will then meet Sevilla in another La Liga match three days later.
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