Inter Miami Vs Barcelona SC Highlights, Pre-Season Friendly: Messi Scores, Assists As 10-Men Herons Share Spoils

Good Morning to everyone joining us today for the live coverage of the Inter Miami Vs Barcelona SC preseason friendly match. This is the start of our blog, stay tuned for the real-time updates and more.

Location: Guayaquil, Ecuador

Stadium: Estadio Banco Pichincha

Date & Kick-off Time: Feb 8 – 05:30 am IST

Head coach Javier Mascherano has selected the following XI to face Barcelona SC:

Dayne St Clair; Ian Fray, Maximiliano Falcon, Micael, Noah Allen; Rodrigo De Paul, Yannick Bright, Telasco Segovia; Lionel Messi, German Berterame, Mateo Silvetti.

Barcelona SC coach Cesar Farias has selected the following XI:

Jose David Contreras; Bryan Carabali, Javier Baez, Luca Sosa; Jonathan Perlaza, Milton Celiz, Matias Lugo, Jandry Gomez, Joao Rojas, Johan Garcia, Sergio Nuñez.

And we are away at the Estadio Banco Pichincha.

Inter Miami 0-0 Barcelona SC 1'

It's Barcelona SC who start on the front foot with controlled possession and Inter Miami sitting deep in their own half. Early days in the fixture but good start for the Ecquadorians.

Inter Miami 0-0 Barcelona SC 5'

Lionel Messi provides a great bit of assist to Mateo Silvetti but the latter's right footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the bottom right corner by José Contreras.

Inter Miami 0-0 Barcelona SC 7'

Inter Miami forward Germán Berterame ventures into a offside position.

Inter Miami 0-0 Barcelona SC 15'

The home crowd came to see the maestro Lionel Messi and the Argentine springs into action with a free-kick attempt. However, the Barcelona SC keeper José Contreras is equal to it and saves.

Inter Miami 0-0 Barcelona SC 18'

Rodrigo De Paul is known to be a fighter in the midfield and the Argentine pulls down one of the Barcelona SC player and immediately gets a telling from the ref.

Inter Miami 0-0 Barcelona SC 21'

Milton Celiz made a strong play that Garcia nearly finished with a shot inside the penalty area, but Maximiliano Falcon stepped in to block the attempt.

Inter Miami 0-0 Barcelona SC 25'

Lionel Messi weaves through the defense and fired a stunning left-footed shot into the net.

Inter Miami 1-0 Barcelona SC 31'

Telasco Segovia sees his left footed shot from the left side of the box, go wide off the post. Guess who provided with the assist? Messi ofcourse!

Inter Miami 1-0 Barcelona SC 37'

Barcelona de Guayaquil are level and how! Joao Rojas bullet header from the right side of the six yard box, goes into the left corner. Crowd goes wild inside the stadium.

Inter Miami 1-1 Barcelona SC 41'

Oh Hello! Germán Berterame gives Herons the lead right before the break and they won't mind it one bit. Lionel Messi is running the show here and the Argentine provides yet another assist.

Inter Miami 2-1 Barcelona SC 45'+3'

Barcelona de Guayaquil 1, Inter Miami CF 2

• Willian Vargas replaces Bryan Carabalí

• Tomás Martínez replaces Joao Rojas

• Jonnathan Mina replaces Jonathan Perlaza

• Jhonny Quiñónez replaces Jandry Gómez

Inter Miami 2-1 Barcelona SC 46'

Barcelona SC player Javier Baez meets a header from the centre of the box but misses to the right. The cross was delivered by Johan García.

Inter Miami 2-1 Barcelona SC 55'

And that's that for the Argentine skipper. Lionel Messi who scored and assisted, is subbed off and on comes Luis Suarez. Other subs include Facundo Mura for Ian Fray and Gonzalo Luján replacing Micael.

Inter Miami 2-1 Barcelona SC 59'

Barcelona de Guayaquil forward Luca Sosa sees his attempt saved. Tomás Martínez provides a neat assist but the Inter Miami CF keeper is equal to it and saves.

Inter Miami 2-1 Barcelona SC 63'

Mamadi Jiana replaces Mateo Silvetti

David Ayala replaces Yannick Bright

Santiago Morales replaces Germán Berterame

Inter Miami 2-1 Barcelona SC 69'

Nothing much happening but the dying minutes of the game and we have some drama as Ayala gets a red card.

Inter Miami 2-1 Barcelona SC 87'

Tomás Martínez has levelled it up for the hosts in the dying minutes of the game and it's backs against the walls for Inter Miami CF.

Inter Miami 2-2 Barcelona SC 88'

So close to a winner! What a turnaround it would have been! Miguel Parrales misses his header from very close range misses as the ref blows for the full-time whistle.

Inter Miami 2-2 Barcelona SC FT