FC Barcelona will officially kick off their 2026-27 pre-season preparations today, Friday, July 24, taking on Catalan neighbours CE Europa in a behind-closed-doors friendly match as the thrilling 2026 World Cup summer came to a close and domestic club football is slowly making its return.
The game, taking place at the Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper training ground, will serve as manager Hansi Flick's first test of the summer before the squad travels to England for the next leg of their pre-season tour. Facing third-tier opposition, Barcelona is widely expected to secure a comfortable victory, but fans tuning in for score updates should expect a very unfamiliar starting eleven.
Because the World Cup in North America concluded just days ago, Hansi
Flick is currently operating with a heavily depleted squad. Barcelona is missing a large array of its biggest star performers, most notably the eight Spanish internationals who recently lifted the World Cup trophy.
Key figures like Lamine Yamal, Pedri, Gavi, Pau Cubarsi, Dani Olmo, Ferran Torres, Eric Garcia, and Joan Garcia are all enjoying a well-deserved extended vacation and will not feature today. Furthermore, the squad is still managing injuries, with Frenkie de Jong sidelined due to a ligament issue. Midfielder Fermin Lopez has recently returned to training following a World Cup injury but is highly unlikely to be risked in this friendly.
Barcelona Predicted Starting Lineup : Szczesny; Fort, Araujo, Martin, Balde; Bernal, Casado, Espart; Kluivert, T. Fernandez, Bardghji
Barcelona vs CE Europa Match Prediction
Pre-season friendlies can often be disjointed and unpredictable affairs, especially when a team fields a makeshift lineup with players who have rarely played together. However, even with a heavily rotated squad consisting mostly of youth prospects, Barcelona possesses far too much sheer talent and technical quality for CE Europa.
Hansi Flick is a demanding coach who expects high intensity and a winning mentality regardless of the occasion. The young talents on display will be desperate to prove their worth, which should result in a dominant, attacking performance.
Prediction: Barcelona 3 - 1 CE Europa.
Barcelona vs CE Europa Kick-Off Time and Viewing Details in India
- Date: Friday, 24 July 2026
- Kick-off Time (IST): 5:30 PM IST (1:00 PM BST / 12:00 PM UTC)
- Venue: Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper, Barcelona
Where to watch in India?
As this is a behind-closed-doors training friendly, there is currently no official live television broadcast or official live stream scheduled for the match. Fans in India can track the live scores, statistics, and minute-by-minute updates through popular sports tracking applications and Barcelona's official social media channels.
