Haaland Substituted Due to Injury Concerns

In a pre-season friendly between Manchester City and Barcelona, Pep Guardiola revealed that Manchester City's star striker Erling Haaland was substituted at half-time due to some 'niggles,' emphasizing the importance of caution to avoid a more extended absence. Haaland's discomfort has led to limited playing time during pre-season, with Guardiola focusing on his fitness for the upcoming season. Despite a winless pre-season for City, Guardiola remains optimistic about integrating academy players and preparing for the competitive fixtures ahead, including matches against Chelsea and Manchester United. Barcelona, under new coach Hansi Flick, showcased strong positional play, which Guardiola commended. Guardiola also praised Barcelona's young talent Marc Bernal for his exceptional performance, highlighting his impressive passing accuracy and defensive contributions. The friendly match ended in a 2-2 draw, with Barcelona winning the penalty shootout 4-1.