Reigning Champs Face Spanish Powerhouse at Levi’s Stadium

One of the most anticipated matches of the 2015 International Champions Cup North American leg will take place this weekend.  Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, CA will be the venue for reigning UEFA Champions League titleholders FC Barcelona and English Premier League dynamo Manchester United.  

Fans of top-flight football should cancel all plans and make a beeline for Levi’s Stadium this Saturday, as tickets are still available for purchase on the resale market. 

Reigning ICC trophy hoisters Manchester United have gotten their 2015 ICC campaign off to a great start, toping Club América 1-0 and also taking full points from San Jose Earthquakes this week.  Memphis Depay recorded his first and second ever goal for United, in a match also saw second half substitute Andreas Pereira steal the headlines with a nifty header sealing the 3-1 score line.

FC Barcelona also enters this clash undefeated, winning 2-1 against the Los Angeles Galaxy.  The reigning La Liga and UEFA Champions league champs found goals from Luis Suarez and Sergi Roberto while dominating possession for the entirety of the match.  Suarez stole the show, keeping fans on the edge of their seats displaying why he is one of the most coveted strikes in the world.

These foes are no strangers having met twice in the Champions League Final.  In 2008-09 and 2010-11 Barcelona topped United, 3-1 and 2-0 respectively.  They have also faced each other in the UEFA Champions League Semi-final during 2007-08, with United advancing on an aggregate score of 1-0.

Headlining this match is a showcase of forwards.  Manchester United’s Wayne Rooney the 2009-10 Professional Footballers’ Association Player of the Year has scored at least 11 goals in every EPL season since joining Manchester in 2004-05.  FC Barcelona’s Suarez is also a prolific scorer who scored 25 goals and added 20 assists in all competitions during his first season with the club. 

Kicking off at 1:00 p.m. Pacific Standard Time this fixture will be nothing less than exciting.  Barcelona seems likely to take the field in a 4-3-3 formation while Manchester United boss Louis van Gaal will counter with a lineup arranged in some form of a 4-3-1-2. 

Manchester United currently sits tied in 4^th of the ICC North American standings with six points; facing rivals Chelsea FC in their final tournament match on July 29^th in Chicago, IL.

FC Barcelona sits in 5^th place on three points with one of their two final matches coming against Chelsea FC in Landover, MD on July 28^th.  They will then conclude against Fiorentina in Florence, Italy on August 2^nd.