That was fun, wasn’t it? Great opening 45 minutes, with Eden Hazard at the heart of Chelsea’s best moments, but Barcelona really stepped it up in the second period, and scored two good goals. Jordi Masip didn’t cover himself in glory for the second Chelsea goal, but I think 2-2 was probably fair, even if Barca dominated after the break.
Good shootout for Chelsea, too: Masip didn’t get near any of them. Thanks for reading. Good night! Here’s the match report:
And reaction …
Updated
Full time: Chelsea 2-2 Barcelona (Chelsea win 4-2 on penalties)
Remy sent the keeper the wrong way again! Masip went the wrong side on all four kicks.
Barcelona 2-4 Chelsea: Remy scores!
Chelsea win!
Barcelona 2-3 Chelsea: Sandro scores!
Emphatic. High and handsome.
Barcelona 1-3 Chelsea: Ramires scores!
Third penalty to Masip’s left. Third time the goalie has gone the wrong way.
Updated
Barcelona 1-2 Chelsea: Pique misses!
Saved by Courtois! Stutter step from Pique, but Courtois reads it well. Tame.
Barcelona 1-2 Chelsea: Moses scores!
Slots it home. Nicely done.
Barcelona 1-1 Chelsea: Halilovic misses!
Tries the chip, but off the bar!
Barcelona 1-1 Chelsea: Falcao scores!
Cool as you like! Sends Masip the wrong way.
Barcelona 1-0 Chelsea: Iniesta scores!
Coolly slots it past Courtois.
Penalty kicks begin
Iniesta first.
Well, Chelsea beat PSG on spot-kicks on Saturday. Can they do it again?
Full-time: Chelsea 2-2 Barcelona
It’s penalties!
90 min + 3: Ooooh!!! Iniesta’s volley is inches wide! Lovely one-two between Halilovic and Rafinha, and Iniesta, arriving late, fires it just wide. A couple of inches the other way and that was a goal. Courtois didn’t move.
90 min + 2: Oh, Willian and Remy got in each other’s way! Another good cross from Moses, and both players were free, but they blocked each other off. Time for one last chance?
90 min + 1: Headed away, and Chelsea break, but Jordi Alba does well to come and nick it off the toe of Willian.
90 min: Pedro’s cross it cut out by Ivanovic. But it’s a corner. Three added minutes.
89 min: Barca look for a winner, and Halilovic goes into the box, but Chelsea hack clear. Penalty kicks loom!
88 min: Actually, Cahill has gone off. Nathaniel Chalobah is on.
87 min: That was a goalkeeping horror show from Masip: the ball was headed up in the air, Masip came, but Cahill just got up higher than him! And maybe Falcao got in his way. But Cahill rose, headed into an empty net, and took a whack from the goalie in the process. Terrible keeping, but Cahill did well to keep his eye on it.
Updated
GOAL! Chelsea 2-2 Barcelona (Cahill 86)
Oh boy, Cahill is bleeding heavily. But the goal counts!
85 min: Late from Busquets on Ramires, and a chance for Chelsea to get it in the mixer.
84 min: Pedro, who’s looked lively since coming on, shoots just wide. Will he be at Manchester United next season?
Updated
83 min: It’s just picked up in the last few minutes. Sandro shoots: it’s blocked, and it’s a Barcelona corner. Headed away by a clutch of defenders in white.
81 min: Moses fires one right across the goal! Everybody missed it. What a ball in. No Chelsea player went for it.
Updated
79 min: Ooh, Courtois got a little lucky there: Terry gave the goalie a backpass that he didn’t really want, and he tried to turn inside Pedro, who had closed him down quickly. Pedro tackled cleanly, but fortunately for Courtois it rolled out of play. Now Ramires at the other end! Arrived late to collect Moses’ pass: but he fired wide! Should have at least hit the target.
77 min: Understandably, this game has lost some of its intensity. But Remy does well to go beyond the back line, and his cross his met by Falcao … but his scissors kick is over the bar. Well played Remy.
Tonight’s attendance: 78,914. How about that!
75 min: By gum, these changes have been hard to keep track of. I don’t know who’s playing for who any more. Cahill? Fabregas? Jesper Gronkjaer? Yellow card for Jordi Alba for a crude tackle on Victor Moses: that was really late. It could have been red.
Updated
72 min: Willian is fouled, and then his ball in is terrible. Barca break, but Moses does well to stay with Pedro.
70 min: Re: Falcao, Fox are just going through some of Chelsea’s under-performing No 9s. Names to conjure with! Chris Sutton, Mateja Kezman, Franco Di Santo. Fernando Torres! Can Falco do better than those guys?
68 min: Falcao on for Hazard, who’s been Chelsea’s best player.
67 min: It looked as if all the momentum had gone from the game after that raft of substitutions, but suddenly Barcelona attacked down the left, and Sandro received it, cut inside, and bent a brilliant shot past Courtois. Lovely, lovely goal, and Barca lead.
GOAL! Chelsea 1-2 Barcelona (Sandro 66)
What a brilliant goal!
Updated
65 min: Alen Halilovic and Thomas Vermaelen are also on for Barca, as are Rafinha and Sergi Samper. I think that means Gumbau is the only starter who still remains. Munir has a pop from distance: it’s deflected wide.
Updated
62 min: Ramires looks to feed Willian, but his pass is errant. Chelsea haven’t really fired in attack in this second half. Mikel and John Terry are also on for Chelsea, as is Victor Moses. We’re going through changes!
61 min: OK, here’s where we get the musical chairs: Barcelona have about five players lined up ready to come on: Pique, Iniesta, Pedro, Jordi Alba, Masip. Is that all? Who knows. Remy’s on for Chelsea.
58 min: Ivanovic is penalised for stepping over the line during a throw-in. Then we get a close-up of the Serb: jeez, he’s so big, isn’t he! I don’t think I’ve ever seen a footballer with bigger forearms.
55 min: That was bad defending from Chelsea: first from Costa, and then from Azpilicueta, whose clearing header went straight to Suarez. And he punished them! He’s a punisher. Rakitic’s free kick is well cleared, but it falls to the Croat again, and he hammers a shot over the bar.
53 min: So much going on there: Zouma headed the initial corner clear, Mathieu played it back in, but Costa’s clearance was poor, and he gave it straight back to Mathieu. His ball in to the back post was not dealt with by Azpilicueta, and it fell to Suarez, who scooped it over Courtois and in. Zouma, tracking back, tried to clear it, and did brilliantly, but the ball had already crossed the line. Phew!
GOAL! Chelsea 1-1 Barcelona (Suarez 52)
It had been coming!
51 min: Barca have really imposed themselves in this second half. Adriano’s crossfield pass is nicely taken by Sergi Roberto, and he wins a corner.
50 min: Off the post by Munir, from Sandro’s cross! But the whistle had gone for a push. Correct call: he clearly gave Azpilicueta a shove.
48 min: Now Diego Costa shoots over after some brilliant skill in the coner from Hazard. Rakitic is down, wincing in pain, but he’ll be OK.
46 min: Barca look after the ball neatly, and then Suarez comes to life, finding Sergi Roberto, who takes a wonderful first touch and finds Suarez, but Suarez’s shot is over the bar. Very good start by Barca.
Second half begins
Willian and Ramires are in for Chelsea: Oscar and Kenedy come out.
Lovable TV commentator Ray Hudson reckons this has been the best game of this International Champions Cup, and he’s probably right:
Thunderous applause to #ICC2015 #Chelsea & #FCBarcelona for the best game,BY LIGHT YEARS...tremendous entertainment @RELEVANT. +MAGIC CROWD!
— Ray Hudson (@RayHudson) July 29, 2015
Half-time: Chelsea 1-0 Barcelona
Just one minute of stoppage time: Allen Chapman sees no need to drag it out. And that brings to a close a very entertaining 45 minutes. Chelsea on top, and a very good goal by Hazard gives them a deserved lead. See you in 15 or so.
45 min: Chelsea have played very well in this first half. They deserve to be ahead, although Barca look dangerous, particularly when Suarez has a sniff. But that’s a waste of a cross from Sergi Roberto: high, and overhit.
43 min: Like Emmental cheese or my underpants, Barcelona’s backline is full of holes. (And sweating.) Mathieu, in particular, has struggled – and that’s a yellow card for him, for holding back Hazard. He looks chastened. As well he might!
Updated
40 min: What a miss by Rakitic! Suarez was like a dog with a bone, and just didn’t give it up: he beat Azpilicueta, crossed low, Busquets missed it, and it fell kindly to Rakitic … who skied it from eight yards. Massive let-off for Chelsea.
38 min: Barcelona are playing so high in defence, and Costa has beaten the offside trap about three times already. He was nearly in there again, but went just too early. Now Matic goes beyond, but Bartra does well to cover.
37 min: That’s another good save by Courtois, but Suarez will be annoyed with himself: he got on to a loose ball so quickly, went round Zouma, but didn’t quite get hold of his shot from 16 yards. Now Munir from distance, trying to bend one past Courtois … it’s wide.
35 min: Chelsea have created three or four clear chances; they’ve definitely had the better opportunities. It was funny just then: Costa tried to open his body up, to shoot with his right foot from the left side, Thierry Henry-style, but he just got his shot wrong. Oh Diego!
33 min: Now Sandro from range! Beaten away by Courtois. He’s so good, isn’t he. And Costa streaks away at the other end, clean through, all on his own … and puts it wide! I can’t believe he missed that. He had so much time.
32 min: Great save by Courtois! Azpilicueta got dragged in on the left side, and Munir went clear to the byline: his cutback for Suarez was incisive, but Suarez’s fierce shot on the turn was well blocked by the keeper. Good all-round play.
30 min: Now Hazard is down holding his ankle. Let’s all have a breather.
29 min: Chelsea are so quick to get behind the ball when the lose it. Barcelona are less concerned. Munir goes down the right but Matic comes clanking across to win it. Suarez wants a handball in the box, but no call.
26 min: … off the bar! From Fabregas! No, Hazard! So close, and swept clear by Barca.
Updated
25 min: A hapless lunge from Mathieu on Costa, and that’s a foul in a very good area for Chelsea: about 23 yards from goal, just to the left of the D …
25 min: Rakitic trips Costa, crudely, and the ref played on, because Kenedy had it … but then Kenedy gave it away. Barca enjoying the lion’s share of possession at the mo, but Chelsea have fallen back quickly into their defensive shape.
23 min: Barca have pushed Chelsea back as they monopolise the ball. Suarez does well to go past Zouma, and now Adriano skins Kenedy, puts in a terrific cross, but it’s just too high for Suarez! The Uruguayan was free in the box, but he just couldn’t reach it.
21 min: Jose is wearing a blue T-shirt on the bench. Whisper it, but I think he’s put on a little weight. Not that I’m shaming or anything! It was just an observation. He still looks great, of course. This game has just settled down a bit after a really enjoyable, and open, 20 minutes
19 min: Sandro and Munir are switching wings, the clever pair. And now a change for Barca: Sergi Roberto in for Douglas, and his first touch is ugly. Chelsea win it back.
18 min: It’s end to end! Costa was in acres of space on the counter, and he cut inside Mathieu, but Gumbau came back, bumped him from behind, and Barca cleared. No penalty. Probably the right call – there wasn’t much in it.
16 min: Now Courtois tips over! Suarez started it with a fabulous turn and pass for Munir, and although Chelsea did well to recover, Suarez fed Rakitic, and his blast from 10 yards was palmed over by Courtois. A save he should have made, but he did well nonetheless.
And then a free header! From the corner. Was it Bartra? Barca pressing hard here. Another corner, fisted clear by Courtois.
14 min: Slack layoff from Suarez takes the momentum out of the Barcelona attack, and then Busquet’s ball is too long for Rakitic.
13 min: That was pretty weary defending from Barca, from Bartra and Douglas in particular, but Hazard is so difficult to stop, isn’t he? That was a fabulous run, and he did really well with the finish, too. Chelsea firmly on top.
11 min: Barcelona gave it away cheaply, and Zouma just shoved it into Hazard’s feet, about 40 yards from goal, in a pocket of space. He turned so quickly, and set off for goal, Barcelona defenders bouncing off him, and just toe-poked one past Ter Stegen under serious pressure. Great goal, and so direct: what a player Hazard is.
Updated
GOAL! Chelsea 1-0 Barcelona (Hazard 10)
What a fine goal!
8 min: Kenedy seems to have started for Chelsea on the right side. Diego Costa is the lone man up top, of course, and Hazard will dribble and slalom from the left. Barca coach Luis Enrique is on the bench wearing matching tee and tracksuit pants, and he’s had a haircut. I prefer it longer. Analysis!
6 min: Confusion in the Barca defence, and Matic was all alone. He headed over from about six yards, but he was offside. Poor marking there, though, from the Catalans.
5 min: Now Rakitic is disgruntled, and he gives the ref his 50 cents after Bartra pulled down Hazard. Suarez has a word, too. That’s not like him! Dangerous free kick for Chelsea on the edge of the box, left side.
4 min: What a save by Ter Stegen! Fabregas’s ball in was delicious, from about 45 yards, and Zouma got free in the box. His header was low and powerful, but Ter Stegen did really well to palm over as it skipped up off the turf. Now Suarez wants a penalty! He and Kenedy tussled, but I think the ref got that right: it was six of one and half a dozen of the other.
3 min: Munir is free down the left, and Rakitic looks to get in, but Zouma is across to clear. Now Courtois comes to pluck Ramirez’s cross. Lively start.
And we're off!
1 min: Oscar and Diego Costa get the ball rolling. Literally! Courtois clears long, Costa wins the header, but Barcelona have it.
They’re out in Washington. Chelsea are wearing white; Barcelona in yellow. We’re minutes away.
So Chelsea’s Braz-illiant youngster Kenedy starts. John Terry doesn’t, so Branislav Ivanovic captains. Rakitic, Sergio and Suarez all play for Barcelona. Not long now!
Updated
Lineups are in
OK, here are some lineups:
Chelsea line-up: Courtois, Ivanovic (c), Zouma, Cahill, Azpilicueta, Fabregas, Matic, Kenedy, Oscar, Hazard, Diego Costa. #CFCTour
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) July 28, 2015
Starting XI: 1 Ter Stegen 4 Rakitic 5 Sergio 9 Suárez 15 Bartra 16 Douglas 17 Munir 19 Sandro 21 Adriano 24 Mathieu 28 Gumbau #TourFCB
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) July 28, 2015
Talking of Arsenal, Arsene Wenger has “hit back” at Jose Mourinho over the Portuguese’s “jibes”. Read more here:
Jason Stone makes a very good point:
Who did you say Chelsea playing on Sunday?
Arsenal! I meant Arsenal, officer! Not Man City. Or Man Utd. Or Luton. Or anyone else. It’s definitely Arsenal. I think.
Jose Mourinho is “not worried” but also “worried”:
I’m not worried with tactical aspects, and I’m not worried with the result. I’m just worried about the possibility to play at a higher intensity and prepare ourselves for the Premier League.
I need to give players minutes. I need to give players different experiences, playing with each other and also playing in different positions.
It’s just about preparation. Obviously nobody likes to lose even in training but if we wanted to win we would choose opponents where we could win easily.
Defenders I have to give 90 minutes to because at this moment I have only five. Between the five we must have four on the pitch and so for the defenders I have to do it.
Hello and welcome
Chelsea, Barcelona, Maryland. The big three! It’s the latest instalment of the International Champions Cup tonight at FedEx Field, Washington’s NFL stadium, and it should be a real treat: even though it’s basically a glorified friendly, it’s always nice to see these two sides in action, and a whole bunch of stars have turned up, even if Little Lionel and the rest of Barça’s Copa América contingent are taking a well-earned rest.
Plus, for Chelsea, they play Arsenal in the Charity Community Shield on Sunday, and then a week later they beat Swansea 2-0 in their Premier League opener at Stamford Bridge. Time to get fit and healthy! Kick off is 8.05pm ET, 1.05am BST, and we’d love you to join us.
Updated
Tim will be here shortly. For now, here’s Chelsea’s Cesc Fabregas on why, when it comes to Arsenal, his love will never die:
“Whatever it is, it is. The love I have for that club will never change whatever happens and what is the most important is what I have with me are the memories,” said Fàbregas, who spent eight years at Arsenal.
“The rest doesn’t matter. I have great memories, love and respect for the club. You will never hear anything bad from me about them.
