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Barcelona have their final preseason test of the 2022 summer as the Catalan giants gear up for the coming La Liga campaign.
The Blaugrana take on Mexican side Pumas UNAM at the Camp Nou on Sunday in the annual Joan Gamper Trophy, with the Liga MX squad making the overseas trip to face one of the world's most famous clubs.
It will be a final peek at how Xavi believes his best starting lineup is constructed, afforded a wealth of incredible attacking talent thanks to a prolific summer offseason for Barcelona. New signings Robert Lewandowski, Raphinha, and Franck Kessie have all made a positive impact in the attacking third.
Additionally, new defensive signing Jules Kounde adds yet another top player to the bulging Barcelona back line.
Sunday's friendly match between Barcelona and UNAM Pumas from the Camp Nou will be broadcast by Univision and TUDN in the United States. Both channels are among the soccer-friendly channels available to be streamed on fuboTV.
In most other territories, a subscription to BarcaTV+ is required to watch the game. BarcaTV+ is the premium streaming service exclusive to FC Barcelona.
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With the La Liga season set to begin in one week's time, Barcelona will look to build chemistry among players in the expected starting lineup. Xavi will get headaches trying to fit his best attacking talent into the lineup on a weekly basis, with so many world-class attacking players at his disposal.
It figures that talisman Robert Lewandowski is a lock to start up front long-term, but his supporting cast is up in the air. Raphinha and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang have both had a good preseason, and Ousmane Dembele is back on a new contract and in good form. Ferran Torres is behind the others, working his way back from an offseason injury, while Ansu Fati and Memphis Depay are in the mix as well.
The central defensive partnership is up in the air as well. Gerard Pique has been a lock to start at the back when healthy, with Ronald Araujo, Andreas Christensen, Eric Garcia, and new arrival Jules Kounde all options to partner with the longtime Barcelona defender.
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Barcelona projected starting lineup (4-3-3, right to left): Ter Stegen (GK) — Dest, Araujo, Pique, Alba — Kessie, Busquets, Pedri — Dembele, Lewandowski, Raphinha.
🚨 SQUAD LIST FOR THE TROFEU JOAN GAMPER! pic.twitter.com/vWyag4VV6x— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona)
Pumas are in the midst of a strange Apertura season with five draws through the first six matches. Head coach Andres Lillini can't seem to get star striker Juan Dinenno going after his successful finish to last season, with the Argentine stuck on just a single goal.
There is a choice for Lillini at left-back between two former Mexican internationals in Adrian Aldrete and Efrain Velarde, or recent starter Jero Rodriguez.
California-born Jorge Ruvalcaba could see a run-out on the wing. The 21-year-old is a Mexican youth international and played college ball at Cal State San Bernardino less than two years ago.
Pumas projected starting lineup (4-3-3): J. Gonzalez (GK) — Aldrete, Freire, A. Ortiz, Bennevendo — Lopez, Meritao, Alves — del Prete, Dinenno, Salvio.
¡Apenas llegamos y ya estamos enamorados de la ciudad! 😍🇪🇸Ahora sí, todos en Barcelona. ¿Ustedes, auriazules, cuándo llegan? Queremos ver sus fotos.🤭⬇️#OrigenDeLaPasión #SoyDePumas pic.twitter.com/UOE6LQP6fB— PUMAS (@PumasMX)
