FC Barcelona are playing in the Joan Gamper Trophy tonight, which will be their last match before the 2023-24 La Liga campaign kicks off. This match will complete the pre-season matches for the Catalan side, which have laid bare an important area of concern for the club before going into the next season.
FC Barcelona have had mixed results in the friendly matches that they have played this summer in the USA. The team lost against Arsenal, conceding five goals, but were quick to spring back as they beat their traditional rivals, Real Madrid, in the Dallas El Classico.
One of the main areas of concern that the club has faced during this period is the physical fitness of their players, especially those playing in defense. In the Dallas El Classico, FC Barcelona lost Andreas Christensen along with Ilkay Gundogan in the first half of the match.
Now, the Joan Gamper Trophy final has not even reached its halftime, and another important defender for Xavi got injured. Ronald Araujo asked Xavi to replace him in the 32nd minute of the match, as he felt physical discomfort after being tackled by Davinson Sanchez of Spurs. More details about his situation are yet to emerge.
Barcelona’s latest addition to their backline, Inigo Martinez, is also not yet fit, as he still suffers from niggling injuries that he got during his time at Athletic Club. Recent reports indicated that Martinez would not be able to return to action before September and would thus be unavailable for the opening matches of La Liga.
Ronald Araujo and Andreas Christensen were two of the top defenders for FC Barcelona last season, who contributed significantly to the team’s triumph of La Liga. As a result, their absence would be a big hit for Xavi, as the player signed to replace them is also currently out of action.
Xavi and Barcelona will be hoping all these players recover from their injuries and discomforts as soon as possible to not cost the club in the competitive matches starting the coming weekend.
