Barcelona starts its preseason with a friendly against Birmingham City, in which it will face a rival with familiar faces and on the verge of competing. After more than two weeks of work, first in the Ciudad Deportiva, and these last days in England, the Barça faces its first friendly this Friday, July 31, with the duel against the Birmingham City in its stadium, St. Andrew's, at 20.45h, Barcelona time (19.45h, local time), and live on Barça Play and the YouTube channel.
What's at stake?
In this way, the azulgranas, with a mix of first-team players and many young players from Barça Atlètic and the juvenile, will face the tenth classified of the past Championship, the second division of England. For Hansi Flick's team, after the training match they played against Europa, the confrontation against the English will also be an opportunity to continue increasing the playing time and to see many of the young players who are fighting to reach the first team in action.
What's at stake?
Because, even with most of the World Cup players on vacation, and Raphinha arrived a couple of days ago - it is not expected that he will participate in the match - names like Ebrima Tunkara, Ibrahim Diarra, Shane Kluivert, Brian Fariñas or Orian Goren, among many others, have the option to raise their hand in front of Hansi Flick, and in front of the great public. It will also be the day to see the newly arrived Adeyemi in action, the return of Héctor Fort after the loan or to continue seeing the evolution of Gerard Martín or Marc Bernal. Plenty of incentives against a rival who also may have several familiar faces for the culer public.
A rival with familiar faces and on the verge of competing
From the South Korean Seung-ho Paik, formed in La Masia and who played in the past World Cup, to footballers with a past in the Spanish league like the Aragonese Carlos Vicente, ex of Alavés, John Solís and Patrick Roberts, former players of Girona or the last to arrive, the Argentine Luis Vázquez,who played the last half-season with Getafe, scoring three goals.
A rival with familiar faces and on the verge of competing
In addition to all this, Barcelona will face a much more experienced team, which will be facing its last friendly, a week before starting to compete. Everything on the table for the culer kick-off to the 2026/27 season.
