Manchester City suffered their third consecutive defeat on their US pre-season tour, losing 4-1 on penalties to Barcelona following a thrilling 2-2 draw in Orlando, Florida, on Wednesday night.

Kalvin Phillips saw his spot kick saved in the shootout, and City failed to convert two of their three penalties, while Barcelona scored all four of theirs to secure the win.

The Spanish giants took the lead midway through the first half after Pau Victor fired a low finish beyond Ederson, but City pegged them back 15 minutes later with a fantastic strike from Nico O’Reilly.

Barcelona retook the lead in first-half stoppage time through Pablo Torre, but Jack Grealish finished off a sweeping counter-attack after the break to level the scores.

Here are five key takeaways from the match in Florida:

Barcelona were faultless in the shootout, netting all four of their penalties to take the win

O’Reilly Impresses Again

Nico O’Reilly continued to make a strong case for himself, scoring City’s first goal with a clinical finish.

The 19-year-old’s clever forward run created space for himself, and he slotted the ball beyond Ignacio Pena with ease.

O’Reilly’s overall performance was impressive, with strong moments in the tackle and a good range of passing.

He will hope to feature in some cup games this season to showcase his skills in competitive fixtures.

Nico O’Reilly showcased his finishing ability by netting City’s first goal in the first half

Mixed Bag for Croatian Duo

Mateo Kovacic and Josko Gvardiol, both Croatian internationals, had a mixed evening.

Kovacic was impressive, gliding through midfield and providing a brilliant assist for Jack Grealish’s goal.

Gvardiol, on the other hand, had a more inconsistent display, with lapses in concentration at centre back and an impatient press that led to Barcelona’s opener.

However, he did provide a quality pass for O’Reilly’s goal, showcasing his ability in possession.

Mateo Kovacic returned with a brilliant assist on the counter attack for Jack Grealish’s strike

Grealish Finds His Groove

Jack Grealish was more effective in this friendly, running at his man and showing a willingness to take on defenders.

His finish for City’s second goal was confident, and he seemed more in tune with his teammates.

Grealish has been criticised for a lack of goals and assists since joining City, but he knows his value within the team.

He has previously stated that he wants to score more, but also believes he brings more to the team than just goals and assists.

Grealish has previously been criticised for not providing more goals and assists in the team

Phillips Shines at Centre Back

Kalvin Phillips impressed at centre back, a new position for him.

He had more time on the ball, and his passing was more accurate, while defensively he was solid.

This could be a new avenue for Phillips to explore, and he seemed comfortable in the role.

Kalvin Phillips put in a solid display at the heart of defence, an unfamiliar position for him

Technology Needed

The absence of goal-line technology was noticeable during the match.

Erling Haaland’s first-half volley seemed to have crossed the line, but the linesman didn’t see it, and no goal was given.

This highlights the need for technology to assist referees in making accurate decisions.

Erling Haaland’s first half volley had seemingly crossed the line but a goal was not given