- Title: FC Barcelona, Real Madrid prepare for El Clasico showdown in Miami
- Date: 29th July 2017
- Summary: MIAMI, FLORIDA, UNITED STATES (JULY 28, 2017) (REUTERS) REAL MADRID AND BARCELONA FANS CHEERING WHILE PHOTO IS TAKEN FANS IN STADIUM FC BARCELONA PLAYERS RUNNING DRILLS ON FIELD NEYMAR RUNNING DRILLS WITH TEAM BARCELONA CAPTAIN ANDRES INIESTA AT NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) FC BARCELONA CAPTAIN ANDREAS INIESTA, SAYING: "What is true is that because of the situation or because of what is being said now about Ney(mar), which when almost everyone is saying your name, well, it has bigger implications, but for us, for those of us who are practicing or seeing what happens at each practice it's something unusual, but it could happen. And on the other hand, maybe we'd all like it if things were different so that it wasn't the only thing being talked about, but there is just one way, which in this case is Ney(mar) saying he's got something to say or he doesn't have anything to say. It's a personal issue. If everything that is being said is true, it will happen. But beyond that, I think what the group wants is for him to stay with us, we consider him a fundamental piece (of the team) and aside from that for the whole situation, all this noise to get clarified by the player himself or from the club… we just want peace which I think will benefit everyone, the players, the club and everything surrounding it." FANS IN STADIUM REAL MADRID PLAYERS WALKING ONTO FIELD FOR PRACTICE REAL MADRID PLAYERS TRAINING REAL MADRID MANAGER ZINEDINE ZIDANE TALKING WITH OTHER COACHES ON FIELD ZIDANE AT NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) REAL MADRID MANAGER ZINEDINE ZIDANE, SAYING: "I think soon, right? But the player, I think he's a very good player, very good. And the opponent, I don't even have to say. We know they're a really strong opponent, very good. They've always been Madrid's most important rival and I think it's going to be a beautiful game for all the fans." VARIOUS REAL MADRID PLAYERS TRAINING
- Embargoed: 12th August 2017 04:30
- Keywords: soccer International Champions Cup FC Barcelona Real Madrid FCB REA in Miami
- Location: MIAMI, FLORIDA, UNITED STATES
- City: MIAMI, FLORIDA, UNITED STATES
- Country: USA
- Topics: Soccer,Sport
- Reuters ID: LVA0016RRQBLR
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: They have played Super Bowls, World Series and NBA championships in Miami but on Saturday (July 29) soccer, and one of the sport's great rivalries, will be the hot ticket when Real Madrid and Barcelona meet in a rare El Clasico away from Spanish soil.
The match marks just the second time, and first in 35 years, that El Clasico will be played outside Spain with the contest being given the full Super Bowl treatment in Miami.
With a sellout crowd of over 65,000 expected at Hard Rock Stadium, home of the National Football League's Miami Dolphins, the match is expected to be one of the most popular played by foreign teams in the U.S..
Anytime Real Madrid and Barcelona appear on the pitch together it is a guaranteed ratings hit, routinely pulling in a global audience that dwarfs the Super Bowl.
The lineups for the two teams include some of the world's best players in Lionel Messi, Neymar, Gareth Bale and Christiano Ronaldo, though Ronaldo is not expected to be at the match.
Aside from being two of the world's most glamorous clubs they are also two of the most valuable, sitting fourth (Barcelona) and fifth (Real Madrid) on Forbes most recent evaluations, with a combined worth of $7.22 billion.
Barcelona and Real Madrid have been joined in this year's ICC by Manchester City, Manchester United, Paris Saint Germain, Juventus, Tottenham Hotspur and AS Roma.
The crown jewel on the fixture list, however, is El Clasico, last staged on foreign soil in Venezuela in 1982. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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