The start of the 2024/25 La Liga season is around the corner and Barcelona are concluding their preparations for the new campaign with a clash against Monaco in the Joan Gamper Trophy on Monday night.
After starting pre-season with a mere nine senior players, Hansi Flick seemingly had his work cut out this summer, but with the help of La Masia, Barca were able to enjoy a hugely successful USA tour.
Barca scored an early victory over Real Madrid in another overseas Clasico and picked up draws against Manchester City and Milan to enjoy an unbeaten tour. They’ve since returned to Catalonia for Monday’s encounter, with Flick’s side opening their La Liga campaign away at Valencia on 17 August.
Monaco were selected as Barca’s opponents for this annual encounter only last month and are aiming to become the first side since Sampdoria 12 years ago to claim victory over the hosts. The French club have been busy this summer off the back of a fine 2023/24 season in which they finished second behind Paris Saint-Germain in the Ligue 1 table.
Here’s 90min’s preview of Monday’s Joan Gamper Trophy.
Barcelona vs Monaco H2H Record (All Games)
Current form (all competitions)
|
Barcelona |
Monaco |
|---|---|
|
Barcelona 2-2 Milan – 07/08/24 |
Monaco 1-2 Genoa – 04/08/24 |
|
Barcelona 2-1 Real Madrid – 04/08/24 |
Club NXT 0-2 Monaco – 02/08/24 |
|
Barcelona 2-2 Manchester City (4-1p) – 30/07/24 |
Feyenoord 1-3 Monaco – 31/07/24 |
|
Barcelona 1-0 Olot – 25/07/24 |
Sturm Graz 2-2 Monaco – 20/07/24 |
|
Sevilla 1-2 Barcelona – 26/05/24 |
Monaco 1-1 Cercle Brugge – 13/07/24 |
|
Country |
TV channel/live stream |
|---|---|
|
United Kingdom |
N/A |
|
United States |
N/A |
|
Canada |
N/A |
While Flick leant on the burgeoning talents from La Masia out in the US, he should be able to call upon the majority of his senior squad on Monday.
However, the German is still without Gavi, Frenkie de Jong, Pedri and Ronald Araujo through injury, but Lamine Yamal could return from his extended break. Ferran Torres should be available.
Fermin Lopez likely won’t be in action having competed for gold at the Paris Olympics on Friday night. The instinctive midfielder will be handed a rest ahead of next Saturday’s curtain-raiser.
Barcelona predicted lineup vs Monaco (4-2-3-1): Ter Stegen; Kounde, Christensen, Martinez, Balde; Bernal, Casado; Raphinha, Gundogan, Victor; Lewandowski.
Monaco were stunned by Serie A middlers Genoa last time out, but it’d be a surprise to see Adi Hutter deviate too much from the team that started in the south of France.
Former Premier League defenders Thilo Kehrer and Mohammed Salisu could both be in action, but Youssouf Fofana may not feature given the doubts surrounding his future. Mamadou Coulibaly is out for the long haul with a knee injury.
Breel Embolo and Folarin Balogun worked in tandem up top against Genoa and Hutter will likely retain that dynamic in Barcelona.
Monaco predicted lineup vs Barcelona (3-4-1-2): Kohn; Singo, Kehrer, Salisu; Vanderson, Camara, Zakaria, Ouattara; Minamino; Embolo, Balogun.
Monaco were excellent last season under Hutter and are an exciting team to watch. Dynamic and vertical, they perform like an efficient Bundesliga outfit.
There’s no doubt the visitors will give the hosts one or two things to think about, but Barca very rarely lose these fixtures. No invited team has lifted the Joan Gamper Trophy since 2012, with only three teams claiming victory since 1997.
While Flick is still without key names, his Barca side should find a way to get the job done on Monday.
Prediction: Barcelona 2-1 Monaco
READ THE LATEST BARCELONA NEWS, TRANSFER RUMOURS & GOSSIP
from Latest Sport Updates – My Blog https://ift.tt/jhtQUMc
via IFTTT