Man Utd 3-1 Barcelona: Wayne Rooney on target for United
Manchester United gained their best pre-season victory so far by beating Barcelona 3-1 in front of 68,414 at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California.
Wayne Rooney's eighth-minute header from Ashley Young's corner put United in front.
Jesse Lingard doubled the lead when he swept home Tyler Blackett's cross after Louis van Gaal had replaced his entire starting XI just past the hour mark.
Rafinha's splendid volley in the final minute was followed almost immediately by United's third from Adnan Januzaj as Van Gaal's team struck on the break.
Victory over the European champions is a welcome sign of progress for Van Gaal - particularly in attack - although Barcelona did hit the woodwork on three occasions, twice through Luis Suarez, who also had a goal disallowed for offside.
United, who have a 100 percent record from their three US tour games, have only one match of their pre-season campaign remaining, against Paris St-Germain in Chicago on 29 July.
MAKING THEIR CASE TO START THE NEW SEASON
Louis van Gaal said on Friday his starting line-up to face Barcelona would be a pointer to the side he intends to select for the opening Premier League game against Tottenham on 8 August.
The minor injury that kept out Bastian Schweinsteiger and Marcos Rojo's late return from Copa America duty mean Van Gaal's words cannot be taken as gospel, even without the potential for additional personnel being signed in the next fortnight.
But there are still some surprises.
Daley Blind is ahead of Chris Smalling in the central defensive pecking order. Memphis Depay has been picked as a number 10 behind captain Wayne Rooney rather than in the wider role it was anticipated he would occupy following his £31m arrival from PSV Eindhoven.
And then there is Ashley Young. The 30-year-old is out of contract next summer and there has been no suggestion his deal will be renewed. But with Angel Di Maria's future uncertain, Young has a chance to build on last season, when he was one of United's most consistent performers.
He impressed against Barca, cutting in from the left flank and darting across their defence. Had it not been for the strong hands of goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen, Young could easily have got the goal his incisiveness deserved.
HOW ARE THE NEW BOYS SETTLING IN?
Depay is the most notable presence of the £80m plus that United have spent on their four new signings this summer,
Quick and direct, it is clear Depay has an eye for goal, and is maybe a touch too selfish at times. But he looks to be one of those players who has the knack of making things happen. He led Gerard Pique a merry dance at the start of the second-half as he threatened a second goal.
Of equal importance, the 21-year-old's link-up play with Rooney has been good. Both have scored on tour following Rooney's header against Barcelona and United can feel confident about posing a more potent threat domestically than they did last season.
Of the rest, Morgan Schneiderlin is more quietly efficient than eye-catching. He lacks experience at the highest level and there were times at the Levi's Stadium when Barcelona played around him rather too easily. Improvement will come though, especially with Michael Carrick's experience cajoling him into the right positions.
Van Gaal surprised observers by saying Matteo Darmian was behind Antonio Valencia at right-back given the £12.8m newcomer is a current Italian international and the Ecuadorian is a makeshift in the role. But there are clearly a few rough edges to smooth given the regularity with which Darmian drove forward down the wing without checking if there was adequate cover.