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Neymar Jr notched two impeccable first half goals as FC Barcelona rolled past the Italian champions Juventus, 2–1, before 82,104 fans at a sold-out MetLife Stadium. The 25-year-old Brazilian was named Man of the Match. Giorgio Chiellini pulled one back for Juventus in the 61st minute. It was a game of firsts for the Catalans, who unveiled a new shirt design, a new sponsor, Rakuten, and a new manager, Ernesto Valverde. The sheer domination exhibited by the Blaugranes from start to finish was highlighted by stellar first-half play not just by Neymar, but also by the Argentinian virtuoso, Lionel Messi. The duo joined forces early and often in putting La Vecchia Signora back on its heels in the opening minutes, and keeping it there till the intermission. Messi and Neymar teamed up on three early rushes culminating in one stray pass from Neymar to Messi, a Neymar shot kicked away by the ageless goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon, and a Messi free-kick from outside the penalty area that fell innocuously by the waysi
