The stage is set for a mouth-watering clash as Barcelona kick-start their 2024/25 pre-season with a friendly against reigning Premier League champions Manchester City.
The two footballing giants will lock horns at the Camping World Stadium in Orlando on Tuesday evening in what promises to be a thrilling spectacle.
While Barca embark on their first pre-season test, Pep Guardiola’s Cityzens are already battle-hardened from their tour of the United States, albeit with mixed results.
The Premier League champions have suffered back-to-back defeats against Scottish Premiership champions Celtic and Serie A giants AC Milan, casting a shadow over their preparations for the upcoming season.
Guardiola’s men are aiming for a mind-boggling fifth consecutive Premier League crown after narrowly edging out Arsenal in a thrilling title race last season.
They beat Arsenal by a landslide in 2022/23, but last season’s title race was a lot more thrilling, with both sides going down to the wire.
The Cityzens beat West Ham United 3-1 at the Etihad Stadium to ensure the title remained in Manchester.
Even before the ball is kicked, Guardiola’s side are overwhelming favourites to retain their crown, and fans have already begun buying Manchester City tickets in preparation for the 2024/25 campaign.
However, the club faithful would have been fairly disappointed with Man City’s underwhelming start to the pre-season tour.
Their form has been far from ideal, although it’s worth noting that they’re still missing several key players, especially those who featured in the latter parts of this summer’s European Championship tournament in Germany.
Nevertheless, the prospect of a reunion between Guardiola and his former employers, Barca, adds an extra layer of intrigue to the encounter.
The Catalan giants will be eager to impress their new manager, Hansi Flick, and lay down a marker for the upcoming season, where they’ll be looking to rival Real Madrid for the La Liga title.
The Blaugranas will also be keen to challenge for titles on the European stage while bagging at least one of the domestic cup titles would be a priority for Flick’s side.
However, Barca’s immediate attention turns to the tantalising showdown against Man City in Orlando, with the Cityzens still hunting for their first pre-season victory.
With both teams boasting star-studded squads, fans can expect a fireworks display when these two footballing behemoths collide.
The friendly serves as a crucial test for both teams as they fine-tune their preparations for the demanding domestic and European campaigns.
Match Preview
A new chapter has begun at Barca as Flick takes the reins at Spotify Camp Nou.
The German tactician is renowned for his success at Bayern Munich, but he’d be eager to make his mark at the helm of the Catalan giants after succeeding club legend Xavi Hernandez.
Last season saw Barca finish as La Liga runners-up with a ten-point gulf separating them from the champions Madrid, which was a disappointing outcome considering their lofty ambitions.
The Blaugranas also suffered quarter-final exits from both the Champions League and Copa del Rey, highlighting the need for significant improvement in the upcoming season.
Despite the disappointing campaign, Barca ended the 2023/24 season strongly, winning five of their final six league games (L1), including the last four in a row.
That run cemented their position as runners-up, finishing four points ahead of La Liga surprise package Girona, and they’ll now tackle Man City, Madrid, and Milan as part of their US Tour.
The Joan Gamper Trophy match against AS Monaco on August 12 will serve as a final tune-up before Barca kick off their La Liga campaign with a challenging away fixture against Valencia just five days later.
Flick’s appointment has generated plenty of excitement among the Barcelona faithful, but the pressure to deliver silverware is palpable.
However, the new manager will have ample opportunity to assess his squad and implement his tactical philosophy.
While Barca have made a modest start to their summer transfer business with the acquisition of Pau Victor from Girona, the club is expected to be active in the market before the start of the new season.
The Blaugranas are reportedly interested in Athletic Bilbao’s Nico Williams, RB Leipzig’s Dani Olmo, and Real Sociedad’s Mikel Merino.
Meanwhile, Man City will kick off their bid for a fifth consecutive Premier League title with a blockbuster Community Shield clash against arch-rivals Manchester United on August 10.
Guardiola’s side will then embark on their league campaign with a trip to Stamford Bridge to face Chelsea on August 18.
The Cityzens are currently on a US tour where they’ve suffered back-to-back high-scoring narrow defeats against Celtic and Milan.
However, with key players set to return to the squad, Guardiola’s troops are expected to be in much stronger shape for the Community Shield.
Man City won a fourth consecutive Premier League title last season but fell short in the Champions League and FA Cup.
The club has so far made only one signing in the form of Brazilian youngster Savinho, who is tipped for a prominent role in the upcoming season.
Team news & potential line-ups
Flick named a 31-man squad for the club’s pre-season US tour, with a mix of experienced campaigners and promising youngsters set to feature.
The return of Alejandro Balde from injury is a major boost for the Catalan giants. However, the absences of key midfielders Pedri, Frenkie de Jong, and Gavi due to injury will be a blow.
However, the arrivals of Raphinha and Ilkay Gundogan next week will add significant firepower to the squad, while Jules Kounde will also link up with the team on Thursday.
Flick is expected to field a strong starting line-up against Man City in their opening tour match before rotating heavily for subsequent games.
Robert Lewandowski is set to lead the line, with the potential for Pau Victor to make his debut for the senior team after spending last season on loan at Barca B from Girona.
With Ferran Torres and Lamine Yamal still enjoying extended breaks after their Euro 2024 triumph with Spain, Victor could line up alongside Lewandowski and Vitor Roque against Man City.
Barca will face a weakened Man City side due to international commitments, with Kyle Walker, Ruben Dias, John Stones, Nathan Ake, Manuel Akanji, Kevin De Bruyne, Bernardo Silva, Rodri, and Jeremy Doku all absent.
Julian Alvarez, who is being linked with a summer departure, is representing Argentina at the Olympics, so the Cityzens will not be at full strength when they take on Barca.
However, the Cityzens will still pose a formidable challenge, with Erling Braut Haaland and Jack Grealish expected to lead the line.
Barcelona potential starting line-up:
(4-3-3): Marc-Andre Ter Stegen; Julian Araujo, Inigo Martinez, Andreas Christensen, Hector Fort; Oriol Romeu, Ilkay Gundogan, Pablo Torre; Vitor Roque, Robert Lewandowski, Pau Victor.
Manchester City potential starting line-up:
(4-2-3-1): Ederson; Rico Lewis, Jahmai Simpson-Pusey, Callum Doyle, Josko Gvardiol; Mateo Kovacic, Maximo Perrone; Oscar Bobb, James McAtee, Jack Grealish; Erling Braut Haaland.
