Analysis: Las Vegas proved perfect place for preseason ‘El Clàsico’

By Case Keefer (contact)

Sunday, July 24, 2022 | 2 a.m.

To truly become the Sports Capital of the World as city officials have recently branded it, Las Vegas needed to show it could host the world’s most popular sport at the highest level.

Go ahead and scratch off that prerequisite after Saturday night. The biggest rivalry in soccer came to Las Vegas’ biggest venue, and more than conquered.

Barcelona’s 1-0 victory over Real Madrid was almost as action-packed as the Raiders’ most recent playoff-clinching win over the Chargers in January at Allegiant and almost as loud as Metallica’s roof-rattling concert in February. The match between the archrivals, Spain’s two most decorated clubs, capped a stretch of eight days where six of the most notable clubs in the world played in town.

By all accounts, from the teams and fans alike, it was a smashing success. “El Clàsico,” the title given to any match between Barcelona and Real Madrid, in particular brought a packed house and first-rate atmosphere.

It might have been a preseason game, but it sure didn’t feel like one. The exhibition sure wasn’t boring either, as the pace and effort on both sides might have won over even the most stubborn soccer skeptic.

It’s hard to match when the 120-year-long enemies meet in a La Liga showdown or in another international competition, but there were still moments in this meeting that the fan bases will remember for years to come.

In his “Blaugrana” debut, Polish superstar Robert Lewandowski had the first scoring chance on an early breakaway but his shot in the corner was stopped in a diving save by Real Madrid goaltender Thibaut Courtois. Another new Barcelona attacker beat Courtois, considered the best goalie in the world after leading Real Madrid to the UEFA Champion’s League title in May, in the 27^th minute.

Raphael “Raphinha” Dias backed up his controversial claim that Barcelona was "better" than Real Madrid in his second game with the club by placing a shot top-shelf and out of reach of Courtois. The goal set off a frenzied celebration in the stands — well, at least in half of them.

Real Madrid was more on the offensive from there and its aggressiveness resulted in a tense moment shortly before halftime when arguably its best player participating in the game, Vinicius Junior, was cut down by Barcelona defender Jordi Alba. A shoving match between teammates ensued as the officials issued a yellow card.

Alba was booed hastily by the thousands of fans in Real Madrid white whenever he touched the ball for the rest of the night.

Again, “exhibition” might be the technical term for the 283^rd edition of “El Clàsico” but it’s not a very apt description.

This mattered to both clubs, whose fans packed the Strip and area around Allegiant all day to give Las Vegas a flavor perhaps unlike any other it’s experienced before.

Professional soccer isn’t totally foreign to the valley, of course. The Las Vegas Lights have a stronghold downtown where they regularly rank near the top in United Soccer League attendance figures. And top-flight European clubs like Barcelona and Real Madrid have made local stops during this time of year previously before their domestic seasons begin.

A historic pairing like this one was new though, and it added a different level of fanfare. Two hours before the game, Barcelona supporters’ burgundy and blue engulfed the perimeter of Allegiant.

Fans posing with flags and blasting “Cant del Barça” out of everything from their cell phones to car sound systems created a festive environment.

Real Madrid reigned inside the 60,000-plus seat venue pregame, as “Los Blancos” supporters appeared to prefer escaping the heat and gallivanting within the two-year-old, $2 billion venue. Some feared Allegiant wouldn't cut it as a soccer site because it wasn't made with "the world's game" in mind.

But between these recent three games and last year’s CONCACAF Gold Cup Final, Allegiant is working just fine and looks in line to host many more matches for years to come. There’s a reason “inaugural” is attached to all promotional materials of the Soccer Champions Tour, which consisted of “El Clàsico” and Italian club Juventus’s 2-0 win over Mexico’s Chivas on Friday.

It seems like a lock to return to town. Organizers didn't hide their desire to make it an annual event before Barcelona’s win over Real Madrid, but Saturday night went off so well that it would be even more foolish not to.

It was only the second time the rivals ever played in America — following a 3-2 Barcelona win five years ago at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami — and special for all who witnessed it.

Las Vegas played no small part in making it that way.

Case Keefer can be reached at 702-948-2790 or [email protected]. Follow Case on Twitter at twitter.com/casekeefer.Case Keefer can be reached at 702-948-2790 or