Full match coverage of FC Barcelona's final game of the International Champions Cup, where they come up against Italian side, ACF Fiorentina.
So far, Barcelona have enjoyed a mixed start to their preseason, winning one, losing one and drawing the other but the goal of preseason is all about fitness and not results. However, being the competitive team that they are the squad will be eager to secure the win.
Having played all of their preseason games in North America, this friendly will be Barça's first on European soil and they come up against Italian side Fiorentina. The clubs have met three times in their shared histories with Barça coming out victorious in all three.
The first meeting came back in the 1964/65 season and Barcelona walked away with a 2-1 aggregate win over the two legs. The meeting again saw the Catalans progress after two legs, having drawn the first game before securing a 2-0 away win.
The most recent meeting between the two sides came in 1999, with current Manchester United manager, Louis van Gaal, in the dugout for Barça. The home tie was won 4-2 and current Barça manager Luis Enrique was on the scoresheet.
TEAM NEWS
BARCELONA
Luis Enrique has been using these preseason games to test the water in terms of which players he will use in the upcoming season. Enqriue has been more than willing to experiment with youth as well with the likes of Sergi Samper, Gerard Gumbau, Alen Halilovic, Munir El-Haddadi and Sandro Ramírez all getting game time.
That youth has been recalled for this clash as well as the experienced players such as Andrés Iniesta, Gerard Piqué, Ivan Rakitić and Luis Suárez.
However, despite returning to training early this week, the Copa America players haven't been named in the squad meaning the likes of Lionel Messi and Neymar will sit this one out.
In goal, Marc-André ter Stegen and Jordi Masip retian their places with Claudio Bravo still on holiday. The rest of the team is made up by Marc Bartra, Jordi Alba, Thomas Vermaelen, Sergio Busquets, Rafinha Alcântara, Sergi Roberto and Pedro Rodríguez.
FIORENTINA
The Italian side have recently let ex-Bayern Munich striker Mario Gomez go but are confident in the abilities of Paulo Sousa and Giuseppe Rossi for the upcoming Serie A season. The Italians have also strengthened their midfield with Atlético Madrid favourite Mario Suárez joining last week.
FORM GUIDE
Barcelona: WLD
Fiorentina: LD
LAST MEETING
ACF Fiorentina 3-3 FC Barcelona - 2 November 1999 - UEFA Champions League
Having both progressed to the next stage, the teams shared the spoils with a 3-3 draw at the Stadio Artemio Franchi.
LIKELY LINE-UPS
Barcelona (4-3-3): Ter Stegen, Bartra, Piqué, Vermaelen, Alba, Rakitić, Busquets, Iniesta, Pedro, Suárez, Munir
Fiorentina (4-4-2): Sepe, Basanta, Rodriguez, Tomovic, Ilicic, Vecino, Alonso, Joaquin, Valero, Babacar, Bernandeschi
MATCH PREDICITON
It's always hard to predict preseason results but I fancy Barça to get back to winning ways with a 3-1 win.
from Barca Blaugranes - All Posts http://ift.tt/1KHtE6N
0 التعليقات:
إرسال تعليق