FC Barcelona will be starting preparations for the upcoming season in a real test against minnows, Gimnastic Tarragona. While some players like Messi, Busquets, Alba and Aguero are still enjoying their holidays after involvement in their various continental competitions, others are back to the Camp Nou. However, Pedri is still involved with the Spanish team at the Olympics and will be expected to join the team later.

According to the club’s official website, Ter Stegen, Coutinho, Ansu Fati and Dembele will all join the team when their physiotherapists okays or gives the green light due to their recovery schedule.

First medicals, including PCR and serological tests have already been conducted on most of the players that have returned to the club. Dest, Piqué, Pjanić, Riqui Puig, Neto, Coutinho, Sergi Roberto, and Umtiti are all back. Some Barça B players will complete the numbers for the upcoming preseason and to gain important first team experience. They include Monchu, Nico, Yusuf Demir,  Iliax, Gavi, Arnau Tenas, Álex Collado, Comas, Ramos Mingo, and Iñaki Peña.

The friendly match will be played on Wednesday at the Estadi Johan Cruyff at 7.00pm CEST. It will be screened worldwide on Barca TV+.

Although Barca is yet to complete the integration of their newly acquired assets like Aguero, Memphis Depay, Eric Garcia and Emerson, Joan Laporta and the board are expected to sort things out to allow them get assimilated into Koeman’s system and plans through the upcoming preseason tests.

NEXT FIXTURES

• Match: FC Barcelona v Girona

             Date:   Saturday 24^th July, 2021

             Time:  19:00

• Match: VFB Stuttgart v FC Barcelona

            Date:   Saturday 31^st July, 2021

            Time:  18:00.

OTHER FIXTURES FOR 2021/2022