Goals from Lionel Messi, Ivan Rakitic and Gerard Pique gave Barcelona a 3-2 victory against Real Madrid in the International Champions Cup on Saturday.

Barcelona claimed the International Champions Cup, after prevailing 3-2 in a thrilling Classic encounter against bitter rivals Real Madrid.

The victory in the United States edition of the pre-season tournament went to Barca, thanks to Lionel Messi, Ivan Rakitic and Gerard Pique in Miami on Saturday. Meanwhile, uncertainty over Neymar’s future at Camp Nou grows unabated.

It was a far from friendly clash at Hard Rock Stadium as Barca, and La Liga Champions League titleholders Madrid went head-to-head on American soil, the former storming out of the blocks.

Goals from Rakitic and Messi put Barca 2-0 up inside seven minutes, but Mateo Kovacic reduced the deficit shortly thereafter, and then Marco Asensio equalised nine minutes before half-time.

Gerard Pique restored Barca’s lead in the 50th minute as Barca beat Manchester City to the ICC trophy, while Madrid ended the tournament without a victory.

– This story originally appeared on FourFourTwo.co.za

Photo: EPA/Juanjo Martin