Barcelona Hosts Como in Preseason Joan Gamper Trophy

Barcelona will host Italian side Como in the 60th Joan Gamper Trophy at the Estadi Johan Cruyff, marking the official presentation of their squad for the 2025-26 season following a successful preseason tour in Asia. Due to Robert Lewandowski's injury and Iñigo Martínez's departure to Al-Nassr, manager Hansi Flick is expected to make significant lineup changes, including starting Marcus Rashford in attack and Joan García in goal. The Catalans aim to build on their strong preseason form and prepare for their La Liga opener against Mallorca, with key players like Pedri, Frenkie de Jong, Ronald Araujo, and Alejandro Balde also expected to feature. Como, coached by former Barcelona midfielder Cesc Fàbregas, arrive unbeaten in preseason and will field several players with La Masia backgrounds, adding a nostalgic element to the fixture. The match will be played before a limited crowd of around 6,000 due to venue capacity, with millions more watching via Barça's YouTube channel. Captain Marc-André ter Stegen is set to deliver the captain's speech during the event, highlighting the importance of the occasion for Barcelona fans and players alike.