Barcelona traveled to South Africa for a surprise midweek friendly with South African team Mamelodi Sundowns. The match has proved controversial in some quarters, as a weakened Barca squad were beaten 5-4 by Levante over the weekend and lost their chance to become Invincibles.
Lionel Messi was not even in the squad while Gerard Pique had to come off the bench, with the club potentially preparing for tonight’s clash. But it’s all for a good cause as the Catalans face Sundowns in celebration of a week that would have seen Nelson Mandela’s 100th birthday.
Update: Barcelona 3 – 1 Mamelodi Sundowns. The Spanish giants secure a comfortable win in the Mandela Centenary Cup at the FNB Stadium.