Real Madrid have also been busy retouching their squad, strengthening the team defensively with the additions of Antonio Rüdiger and Aurelien Tchouaméni. Ancelotti’s 28-man squad arrived in Los Angeles on Tuesday and have been training at UCLA’s facilities.
Four Castilla players have made the trip – goalkeepers Luis López and Lucas Cañizares, right-back Vinicius Tobias and striker Juanmi Latasa.
Barcelona touched down in Miami on Sunday evening, flying in through a tropical storm and without Xavi. The coach was denied a visa for having visited Iran during his time at Al Sadd although the issue has since been sorted out.
Barça have already warmed up for El Clásico by serving their hosts, David Beckham’s Inter Miami a 0-6 drubbing with goals from Aubameyang, Ansu Fati, Gavi, Memphis, Dembélé and newboy Raphinha. Recent arrivals Franck Kessié, Andreas Christensen and Lewandowski could all make their Barça debuts against Real Madrid.
Originally, Real Madrid’s chief enemies were neighbours Atlético but their rivalry with Barcelona has steadily grown since the post-war years after the Catalan club suffered a harrowing 11-1 thrashing in the Copa del Generalísimo semi-final.
By the time Barça had picked up their second league title in 1945, pipping Madrid to the trophy by just one point, they were now viewed as a direct threat. In Spain that rivalry has been fiercely played out in LaLiga with Madrid’s 35 titles compared to Barça’s 26, and in the Copa which the Blaugranas have dominated – 31 titles to Madrid’s 19.
مباراة ودية | برشلونة 1 × 0 ريال مدريد | اشتباك بين اللاعبين بعد لقطة فينيسيوس جونيور 💥💥 HD
– @F24HQ pic.twitter.com/3wFM8zlEjF
— لي اربع سنين اجحد غرابيل الاتعاس (@LyAjhd) July 24, 2022