Ivan Rakitic scored the winner as Barcelona recorded a 2-1 victory over Napoli in Wednesday night's entertaining pre-season clash at the Hard Rock Stadium.
An own goal from Samuel Umtiti had seen Napoli level after Sergio Busquets made the breakthrough, but Rakitic came up with a brilliant finish in the 79th minute to decide the contest.
Read how it all unfolded in Sports Mole's minute-by-minute live coverage of the action below.
Good morning and welcome to Sports Mole's live text coverage of the pre-season clash between Napoli and Barcelona from Miami, Florida. These two teams will lock horns on two occasions over the next three days with the second fixture due to take place in Michigan on Saturday. Stay tuned!
TEAMS!
NAPOLI: Meret; Di Lorenzo, Manolas, Maksimovic, Rui; Ruiz, Zielinski, Elmas; Insigne, Mertens, Callejon
BARCA: Neto; Wague, Todibo, Umtiti, Junior; Busquets, Rakitic, Puig; Griezmann, Suarez, Perez
Napoli have four summer signings in their XI tonight with Konstantinos Manolas, Alex Meret, Eljif Elmas and Giovanni Di Lorenzo all named in the starting side. There is a familiar look to their front three, though, with Lorenzo Insigne, Dries Mertens and Jose Callejon all featuring in the final third. There is also a spot for talented Spanish midfielder Fabian Ruiz.
As for Barcelona, Lionel Messi's absence is due to a calf problem, meaning that 21-year-old Carles Perez has another chance to impress in the final third. Junior Firpo will make his debut for the club following a move from Real Betis, while Moussa Wague starts at right-back having been promoted to the first team for the 2019-20 campaign.
Kickoff was due to take place at 12.30am UK time but that is obviously going to be delayed a touch. It will be very interesting to see how both of these teams perform as they just start to make their way onto the field of play in Miami, Florida. Not too long now.
Right, the pre-match handshakes have been undertaken and the flags have been exchanged. A little late with kickoff but that is absolutely fine. Here's to a good game!
KICKOFF: Napoli kick things off here...
... it must be said that there is a wonderful atmosphere inside the stadium here. The fans will be hoping to see some goals and a good game, therefore it might well be a dull 0-0.
Umtiti takes a little bit of a chance at the back under pressure from Mertens but the Frenchman gets away from it. Napoli are pressing high up the field, which was also the case when I last watched them against Liverpool last month; they were terrific in that game.
Napoli have started the better in this match; the Italian side already making most of the early running. We have not seen too much from Barca's front three thus far - it is still very early days, though. No Lionel Messi tonight as the Argentina international has a calf problem.
Napoli continue to enjoy a lot of the ball here with Elmas and Zielinksi using it well. Mertens is very, very lively in the final third, meanwhile, as he plays on Umtiti's shoulder here.
Griezmann has the chance to burst clear for Barca before sliding a pass into Junior, but the left-back's cross is blocked. First real sign of Griezmann getting involved there.
CHANCE! Big chance for Griezmann as an attempt from Luis Suarez falls kindly for the Frenchman inside the Napoli box. However, the Frenchman can only fire wide of the post!
Decent stop from Neto to keep out a strike from Mertens, but the flag was raised. Just a few signs that both teams are starting to warm up as the tempo increases here.
Griezmann looks very dangerous for Barca as the attacker continues to collect the ball just outside the Napoli box. Meanwhile, Puig has also been bright in the first 12 minutes.
SAVE! Really smart save from Meret to keep out a low strike from Griezmann. As mentioned, the France international is looking very dangerous for the Spanish champions here.
Really poor challenge from Wague on Rui, and the Barca defender is fortunate to escape a yellow card. Rui looks to be fine but that could have been a really bad one for the number six.
No goals to report in the first 15 minutes despite the fact that it has been a very open game of football. Both managers can be pleased with what they have seen thus far tonight.
Elmas, who is a new arrival at Napoli, has been bright for Napoli in the first 17 minutes. There has been a lot of talk about the midfielder, who certainly looks a big talent.
Luis Suarez looks to find Griezmann with a long pass as Barca break again, but the ball just runs away from the France international. Still goalless with 19 minutes on the clock here.
SHOT! Luis Suarez fires over the Napoli crossbar from just inside the box. Might have done better from that position and it is a let-off for the Italian side here.
SAVE! Excellent save from Barca goalkeeper Neto this time as the summer arrival keeps out a close-range attempt from Insigne. Wonderful work from the experienced stopper!
SAVE! Another save for Neto - this time more routine - as the stopper keeps out a low attempt from Mertens. Plenty happening with 21 minutes on the clock as both teams threaten.
Possession football for Napoli at the moment as the Italian side look to find space in the final third. Carlo Ancelotti's side are making the pitch extremely big at the moment.
Time for a hydration break, which is not much of a surprise when considering the temperature and indeed humidity inside the stadium. It has been a really good game thus far.
Back underway in Miami. Both managers took the chance to offer some words of encouragement to their teams - will the breakthrough arrive before the interval here?
Just a reminder that Barca are without Messi tonight due to a calf problem. It would have been very special to see Messi alongside Griezmann and Luis Suarez in the final third. To be honest, we have not seen too much from Perez in the opening 28 minutes here.
SAVE! Another decent save from Meret to keep out a strike from Perez, who burst into action as soon as I said that he was quiet. The number 27 did well to create the space to shoot.
Junior Firpo is making his debut for Barca tonight and the left-back has been bright for the Spanish champions thus far. Jordi Alba will be looking over his shoulder this season, that is for sure. We have reached the 30-minute mark and are still waiting for the first goal here.
CHANCE! Huge chance - easily the best of the match - as Mertens meets a low cross from Callejon. The attacker, though, somehow sends the ball wide from close range! Some miss!
Luis Suarez looks to break into a shooting position for Barca, only for the flag to come to Napoli's rescue. Somehow still goalless despite the number of attacking moments here.
CHANCE! Another big chance for Napoli as Callejon finds Mertens once again, but the Belgian's effort is over the Barca crossbar. Napoli's front three have been so, so dangerous here.
Little over five minutes of the first period remaining and it has been a brilliant half of action in Miami. No goals thus far, but there have been a number of positive moments here.
Napoli's front three continue to cause a lot of problems with their pace and movement in the final third. Barca's defence have been fortunate not to concede in the first 39 minutes.
SHOT! Decent work from Wague as the right-back drives into a shooting position before firing the ball just wide of the Napoli post. Bright stuff from the youngster there.
GOAL! NAPOLI 0-1 BARCELONA (BUSQUETS)
GOAL! Barca make the breakthrough in the 39th minute as Busquets finds a yard of space inside the Napoli box before passing the ball into the bottom corner of the net. It is a brilliant finish from the Spain international, who simply slotted the ball out of the reach of the Napoli goalkeeper.
Excellent piece of defensive work from Umtiti to block an attempt from Mertens, who had broken clear of Wague. Quite how Napoli have not scored tonight is a mystery!
GOAL! NAPOLI 1-1 BARCELONA (CALLEJON)
GOAL! Napoli level the scores as Callejon shows excellent feet inside the Barca box to move away from Junior, before firing into the back of the net off the boot of Umtiti. There were suggestions that it could be an own goal but Callejon will have a right to claim it.
It is almost going to be a shame when the first half ends as it has been so entertaining. Both managers would well make wholesale changes at the half-time interval here.
SAVE! Decent save from Neto to keep out an attempt from Ruiz after a mix-up inside the Barca box. Some of the defending from the Spanish champions has been questionable at best.
Just the one additional minute at the end of the first half here.
HALF TIME: NAPOLI 1-1 BARCELONA
So there we have it - the referee brings the first period to a close with the two teams level at 1-1. Barca took the lead in the 38th minute courtesy of a fine effort from Sergio Busquets.
Napoli were only behind for four minutes, though, and levelled the scores when a low attempt from Jose Callejon was deflected into the back of the Barca net by Samuel Umtiti.
BENCH WATCH! Both managers will obviously use their benches tonight, and the likes of Ospina, Milik, Allan, Ghoulam and Verdi should feature for Napoli. It will also be interesting to see whether Hysaj - strongly linked with Tottenham - plays in the second half here.
BENCH WATCH! As for Barca, the likes of Lenglet, Roberto, Pique and Alba could all come on in defence, while Rafinha, Dembele, De Jong, Alena and Arthur will be hoping to feature further up the field. Messi, as mentioned, is not available tonight due to a calf problem.
The pair will meet again in Michigan on Saturday night in what will be the final pre-season match for both teams. Indeed, Barca open their 2019-20 La Liga campaign away to Athletic Bilbao on August 16, while Napoli's Serie A season starts away to Fiorentina on August 24.
Junior Firpo has certainly shown some positive signs for Barca tonight. The defender will be looking to put pressure on Jordi Alba for the left-back position during the 2019-20 campaign.
👏😍 Tonight is @JuniorFirpo03's Barça debut! 🔵🔴 #ForçaBarça
📍 Hard Rock Stadium pic.twitter.com/ferzuu9QqX— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) August 8, 2019
KICKOFF: Barca resume the action here...
... no sign of any changes from Barca at the interval, which is not too much of a surprise. Just waiting to confirm whether Napoli have made any alterations at the half-time break.
BARCELONA SUBS! Two changes for Barca at the interval as Griezmann and Luis Suarez ar replaced by Rafinha and Abel Ruiz. Looks to be same again for Napoli, though.
YELLOW CARD! Wague (Barca) picks up a yellow card for another poor tackle on Rui.
Just a reminder that these two teams will meet again in Michigan on Saturday night. Will there be any more goals in the second period? The fans in attendance certainly hope so.
Junior Firpo shows excellent pace to burst clear for Barca before finding Perez, who delivers a dangerous cross towards Ruiz, only for Manolas to make an excellent clearance.
Ruiz and Rafinha have been bright for Barca since entering, but Napoli have again just been on the break and Neto had to be quick off his line to clear ahead of Insigne.
SHOT! Insigne chips one over the Barca crossbar as Napoli threaten again.
SAVE! Two excellent saves from Meret to keep out two attempts from Ruiz, who had met a low cross from Perez before attempting to score off the rebound. Good all round there!
CHANCE! Rafinha misses a big chance for Barca as the Brazilian fires over the Napoli crossbar following a mistake from Manolas. The Italians are not looking too good at the back here.
SHOT! Ivan Rakitic just misses the target with a low strike from distance.
CLOSE! Milik just misses the Barca post with a low strike. The attacker has entered the field as part of four changes, which I will confirm when it becomes possible. They just all piled on!
NAPOLI SUBS! Gaetano, Verdi, Milik, Ghoulam and Luperto have replaced Mertens, Elmas, Rui, Ruiz and Manolas. Little over 30 minutes remaining here.
Little over 30 minutes of the second period remaining and Barca are on the front foot at the moment with the Spanish champions looking to score their second goal of the match.
Rafinha has been very bright for Barca since entering the field, with the Brazilian seemingly keen to make an impression amid the speculation surrounding his future.
No signs of any more Barca changes at the moment, but we are entering the stage of the match where Valverde will be thinking about alterations - Dembele might well be one.
BARCELONA SUBS! De Jong, Dembele, Semedo and Pique enter the field for Wague, Todibo, Perez and Puig as Valverde indeed uses his bench.
OFF THE POST! Brilliant effort from Dembele as the Frenchman works some space outside the box before having a go, only for the post to come to Napoli's rescue. Big moment.
SAVE! Wonderful save from Neto to keep out a powerful strike from Milik! Hardly time to take a breath at the moment as both teams continue to have openings in Miami.
YELLOW CARD! Milik (Napoli) picks up a yellow card for an elbow on Umtiti.
Time for another drinks break, which is not a surprise. The tempo of this match has been absolutely incredible. Nothing pre-season about this game tonight, that is for sure.
Back underway in Miami... is there going to be a winner in the final 15 minutes? Just a reminder that these two teams will meet once again in Michigan on Saturday night.
CHANCE! Huge chance for Napoli to score as Milik meet a cross from Ghoulam, but the centre-forward chests the ball over the crossbar. Not sure what he had in mind there!
YELLOW CARD! Junior Firpo (Barcelona) is booked for a late tackle on Verdi.
NAPOLI SUB! Hysaj has replaced Di Lorenzo for Napoli here.
GOAL! NAPOLI 1-2 BARCELONA (RAKITIC)
GOAL! Barca score their second in the 79th minute as Rakitic finds the bottom corner of the net with a wonderful strike from the edge of the box. Stunning finish from the Croatian!
YELLOW CARD! Hysaj (Napoli) is incredibly fortunate to stay on the field as he pulls Dembele back but picks up just a yellow card. The Barca attacker was through on goal there!
SAVE! Another smart save from Neto to keep out a strike from Milik, who will be wondering how he has not managed to score in the second half of this pre-season clash.
SHOT! Dembele fires into the stands as Barca again threaten on the break. It would not be a surprise to see at least one more goal arrive in the latter stages of this match.
SHOT! Insigne fires a low Callejon cross wide of the post as Napoli pass up a big chance to level the scores in the latter stages. Hardly time to take a breath at the moment here.
End-to-end football here as both teams continue to search for more goals. It must be said that this has been a quite brilliant pre-season match - so entertaining and full of life.
SHOT! Dembele curls one just wide of the Napoli post as another chance comes and goes in the latter stages of this match. There will be two minutes of stoppage time here.
SAVE! Meres has to keep out an attempt from Ruiz after the Barca youngster had regained the ball in a dangerous position before attempting to pick out the back of the net.
FULL TIME: NAPOLI 1-2 BARCELONA
So there we have it - the referee brings the second period to a close with Barca running out 2-1 winners over Napoli in Miami. The two teams will do it all again on Saturday night!
That is just about it from me tonight, but I shall leave you with the match report from what was a very entertaining game of football at the Hard Rock Stadium. See you soon!
