MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. – Even without its brightest star, FC Barcelona still outshone its opponent Wednesday night at Hard Rock Stadium.
FC Barcelona overcame a halftime tie to defeat SSC Napoli in the first of two matches held on U.S. soil.
Sergio Busquets put FC Barcelona ahead 1-0 in the 38th minute, but SSC Napoli evened the score before halftime when FC Barcelona's Samuel Umtiti accidentally knocked the ball into his own goal.
FC Barcelona's Ivan Rakitic notched the final score of the game in the 79th minute.
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Hard Rock Stadium played host to the inaugural La Liga-Serie A Cup match between FC Barcelona and SSC Napoli, Aug. 7, 2019, in Miami Gardens, Florida.FC Barcelona outlasted SSC Napoli in the inaugural La Liga-Serie A Cup match, Aug. 7, 2019, at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida.SSC Napoli forward Dries Mertens makes a bicycle kick during the inaugural La Liga-Serie A Cup match against FC Barcelona, Aug. 9, 2019, at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida.FC Barcelona fans show their support for the club during the inaugural La Liga-Serie A Cup match against SSC Napoli, Aug. 7, 2019, at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida.FC Barcelona fans cheer after their club scores a goal against SSC Napoli, Aug. 7, 2019, at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida.Former NFL wide receiver and semi-pro soccer player Chad Johnson watches the inaugural La Liga-Serie A Cup match between FC Barcelona and SSC Napoli on the field at Hard Rock Stadium, Aug. 7, 2019, in Miami Gardens, Florida.FC Barcelona midfielder Ivan Rakitic walks off the field at Hard Rock Stadium after scoring the winning goal against SSC Napoli in the inaugural La Liga-Serie A Cup match, Aug. 7, 2019, in Miami Gardens, Florida.
Hard Rock Stadium played host to the inaugural La Liga-Serie A Cup match between FC Barcelona and SSC Napoli, Aug. 7, 2019, in Miami Gardens, Florida.
The match was the first of two in the inaugural La Liga-Serie A Cup in the U.S. The second match is set for Saturday at Michigan Stadium on the University of Michigan campus.
FC Barcelona was playing without superstar Lionel Messi, who injured his calf during practice and didn't make the trip to South Florida.
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