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After a summer tour around the globe, Barcelona return home for their final preseason test of 2022 as the Catalan giants gear up for the coming La Liga campaign.
The Blaugrana take on Mexican side Pumas UNAM at 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, the coach afforded a wealth of incredible attacking talent thanks to a prolific 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. However, questions remain over the club's financial situation: they are unable to register all their new players for La Liga duty as it stands.
The Sporting News will be following the match live and providing score updates, commentary and highlights as they happen.
Goals: None
15 mins to kick: New Barcelona striker Robert Lewandowski got a big hand from the home supporters when announced as a starter at the Camp Nou for the first time.
Se viene abajo el Camp Nou cuando se anuncia a Lewandowski @relevo pic.twitter.com/f4it1nKoRJ— Toni Juanmartí (@tjuanmarti)
35 mins to kick: Former Barcelona star Dani Alves starts for Pumas UNAM, making an emotional return to the Camp Nou. He was surely critical in seeing the Liga MX side selected to play in this rescheduled match.
Simplemente, Dani Alves. pic.twitter.com/lNFkkLEwYi— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona_es)
55 mins to kick: The Barcelona lineup is in. Robert Lewandowski starts for Barcelona up front, supported by Ousmane Dembele and Raphinha on the wings. Sergi Roberto, a natural midfielder, starts at right-back over American full-back Sergino Dest.
65 mins to kick: In the increasingly commercialized business of top-flight football, the Camp Nou this year will be known as the "Spotify Camp Nou" for sponsorship purposes, so don't flinch when you see the awkward new name. The club's social media channels are already making sure to include the new moniker on everything.
🏟️ ¡Todo preparado en el Spotify Camp Nou!🔜 Trofeo Joan Gamper— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona_es)
72 mins to kick: The Joan Gamper Trophy is a pre-season event hosted by Barcelona since 1966, named after a famous founding member and former player at the club.
Pumas are only in the 2022 edition of the Joan Gamper Trophy (pictured above, held by Sergio Busquets) after the withdrawal of AS Roma in mid-June, who stated they needed to "adjust the schedule for summer-friendly matches" to play games "near to home with less travel necessary." It was thought that Barcelona may sue Roma for the withdrawal, but nothing on that front has materialized since.
105 mins to kick: Pumas fans, whether from local or abroad, are on site and marching to the Camp Nou! What a moment for both the club and its supporters to be playing at one of Europe's most famous arenas.
AFICIÓN PRESENTE 🐱Los aficionados de Pumas ya se encuentran en la plaza de Catalunya para marchar hacia el Camp Nou y alentar a su equipo, se vive el ambiente en Barcelona previo al encuentro.#Pumas #Barcelona📽️ @rocelorio pic.twitter.com/ifPdhOsRiC— TVC Deportes (@TVCDeportes)
120 mins to kick: The storyline ahead of the Barcelona season is the club's inability to register players. There is just a week left to go before their campaign begins, and the club's wage bill is unsustainable as-is, La Liga has determined.
Multiple reports, including ESPN, claim that the club currently cannot register all five summer signings of Robert Lewandowski, Raphinha, Andreas Christensen, Jules Kunde, and Franck Kessie for league play this season. The club has already triggered multiple financial loopholes attempting to free up money to sign the players, but more work is still to be done.
Today's match will be about the performances on the field, but there is much work to be done off it if Barcelona are to take full advantage of their summer overhaul. The squad is bursting at the seams, and there could be a host of sales to come as the club looks to free up wages and secure incoming transfer fees.
Barcelona have been told by La Liga they will need to activate a fourth ‘economic lever’ to register their summer signings.More from @AdamCrafton_ https://t.co/nJwVt4yc4f— The Athletic UK (@TheAthleticUK)
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.
Talisman Robert Lewandowski was a lock to start up front long-term, and his supporting cast isOusmane Dembele and Raphinha. That leaves Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Ansu Fati, and Memphis Depay are on the bench, while Ferran Torres is behind the others, working his way back from an offseason injury.
In defense, Gerard Pique has been a key leader at the back when healthy, but is rested in this match before the season begins. Instead, it's Ronald Araujo and Eric Garcia partnered together and natural midfielder Sergi Roberto moves to right-back over Sergino Dest. Andreas Christensen, Pique, and new arrival Jules Kounde are all on the bench. New midfield man Franck Kessie also gets a rest from the start in today's friendly after a solid preseason performance, likely to make an appearance in the second half.
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Barcelona starting lineup (4-3-3, right to left): Ter Stegen (GK) — Roberto, Araujo, Garcia, Balde — Gavi, Busquets, Pedri — Dembele, Lewandowski, Raphinha.
Barcelona subs (17): Pena (GK), Tenas (GK), Dest, Pique, Christensen, Kounde, Alba, N. Gonzalez, Pjanic, Kessie, F. de Jong, P. Torre, F. Torres, Aubameyang, Fati, Abde, Depay.
👥 The line-up for the Joan Gamper Trophy! 🏆⚽ Barça vs Pumas pic.twitter.com/LwqipKMwEo— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona)
The lineup headliner for Mexican side Pumas UNAM is former Barcelona player Dani Alves who surely factored into the selection of his new club to play in this match.
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.
Lillini goes with Adrian Aldrete at left-back over fellow former Mexican internationals Efrain Velarde and recent starter Jero Rodriguez. California-born Jorge Ruvalcaba could see a run-out on the wing at some point. The 21-year-old is a Mexican youth international and played college ball at Cal State San Bernardino less than two years ago.
Pumas starting lineup (4-3-3): J. Gonzalez (GK) — Aldrete, Freire, A. Ortiz, Bennevendo — Lopez, Meritao, D. Alves — del Prete, Dinenno, Salvio.
Pumas subs (12): Galindo, Trigos, J. Rodriguez, M. Garcia, Diogo, C. Gutierrez, Huerta, Alcala, Caciedo, Velarde, Ruvalcaba, Montejano.
¡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)
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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