As FC Barcelona look ahead to the official La Liga season set to kick off in this very month of August, the Catalan giants have one final test in their way that they must first overcome before the season starts.
Set to face off against English Premier League outfit Tottenham Hotspur for this year’s edition of the annually contested Joan Gamper Trophy, Barcelona will do their best to put on display a strong performance against a very solid opponent in the shape of Spurs.
However, according to Spanish outlet Mundo Deportivo, Barcelona coach Xavi Hernandez will be without one of his most reliable players for the first game that Barcelona are set to play this season at the Olympic Lluis Company Stadium.
Andreas Christensen continues to suffer from discomfort in the Achilles Tendon that was initially confirmed following the clash against El Clasico rivals Real Madrid at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, during Barca’s pre-season tour of the United States of America.
As a result, the participation of the 27-year-old Danish defender is quite doubtful and he will most probably be ruled out for the clash between Barcelona and their English opponents.
On the other hand, however, it would seem that new Barcelona arrival Ilkay Gundogan has recovered from the discomfort he faced in the adductor region of his thigh and will be looking to get minutes against Tottenham Hotspur, an opponent he is all too familiar with from during his time with Manchester City.
In other news, Spanish defender Inigo Martinez will remain unavailable for the game given that he is still currently injured and continuing his recovery following the surgical operation that took place for injury this year itself.
