Barca draw with Man City in thrilling charity match

FC Barcelona and Manchester City drew their charity match, which was organised to raise money for research into ALS, a motor neurone disease, 3-3 in a thriller at the Spotify Camp Nou.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is a progressive nervous system disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord, causing a loss of muscle control.

The initiative of the match was taken by former Barca coaching staff member Juan Carlos Unzué, who was diagnosed with the disease two years ago. Unzué was a part of Pep Guardiola’s coaching staff and later acted as the assistant coach of Luis Enrique, who managed Barca from 2014 to 2017.

The funds raised from the game will go to the Luzón Foundation, an organisation working towards finding a cure for ALS. 91,062 people attended the match.

The match started with a quick pace as both teams looked to score first. City got there courtesy of Barca’s young goalkeeper Inaki Pena, who failed to grab an easy cross. The ball then fell to Julian Alvarez, who tapped in to put the Citizens forward in the 21st minute.

But Barca were level soon as Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scored a precise volley eight minutes later. The first half ended 1-1.

Barca took the lead for the first time in the 66th minute after youngster Gavi pressed Kevin De Bruyne high up the pitch to take the ball, which fell to Memphis Depay, who failed to apply a finish. But Frenkie De Jong was close and scored to put them 2-1 up.

City responded quickly as a well-worked move ended up in the net four minutes later, with Cole Palmer applying the finish.

Depay then put Barca ahead again in the 79th minute, but Erling Haaland earned a penalty in stoppage time, which Riyad Mahrez converted to make it 3-3.