Barcelona will lock horns with Tottenham Hotspur tonight in the Joan Gamper Trophy in what is the traditional curtain-raiser for a new season for the Catalans.
Unlike the past, though, this game will be played at the Montjuic Olympic Stadium, which will be Barça’s temporary home for a year or so, in lieu of the Spotify Camp Nou renovations.
In what will be the final game before the start of the 2023/24 campaign, the La Liga champions will be eager to bag a win and generate momentum.
Preparations for the season so far have not entirely been ideal despite Barcelona winning two of their three tour matches in the USA.
The Ousmane Dembele saga has come as a big distraction while injuries to players such as Andreas Christensen, Gavi, and Ilkay Gundogan have hampered preparations as well, although the latter two have recovered and are set to be available tonight.
New signing Inigo Martinez, though, will be unavailable as he is still recovering from the fascia injury he sustained last season.
Here’s how Xavi could set his team up against Tottenham Hotspur tonight as he looks to mastermind a victory in Barcelona’s first game at the Montjuic Stadium heading into the new season.
Starters
Marc-Andre ter Stegen will start in goal as usual for Barcelona and should captain the team as well, with Sergi Roberto unlikely to make it into the lineup on the night.
At right-back, Xavi could stick Ronald Araujo to combat the threat posed by Son Heung-min, who will be Tottenham’s danger man. Alejandro Balde, meanwhile, is a permanent fixture on the left side of the Blaugrana backline.
Jules Kounde is expected to feature from the get-go at the heart of the defence, with Xavi reportedly promising him to not use the Frenchman at right-back. With Andreas Christensen unlikely to feature, Eric Garcia should get the nod as Kounde’s partner.
New signing Oriol Romeu put up some impressive displays during the pre-season friendlies and is guaranteed to start as the sole pivot midfielder for the Catalan heavyweights.
With Ilkay Gundogan fit and ready to go, he should occupy one of the two interior midfield positions on the pitch, along with Frenkie de Jong.
Xavi is likely to continue with his tactic of deploying a central midfielder as a pseudo-left-winger, with Pedri the man likely to don that role against Tottenham tonight. Robert Lewandowski and Raphinha should round up the attacking line for Barcelona.
Barcelona Predicted XI: Ter Stegen, Araujo, Kounde, Garcia, Balde, de Jong, Romeu, Gundogan, Raphinha, Lewandowski, Pedri.
Substitutes
Ferran Torres showed good form in pre-season, scoring two goals in three games, and should come on for some minutes in the second period. Ansu Fati, whose future has once again become a topic of discussion, should also get an opportunity after half-time.
Gavi will make his first appearance of the pre-season, having not featured during the US tour due to a back problem. Xavi could also give minutes to other young talents like Fermin Lopez and Lamine Yamal, who look set for a first-team role in the coming season.