Following the cancellation of their game against Juventus, FC Barcelona are set to partake in their first game of the pre-season tour of the United States of America where they look to face off against English Premier League side Arsenal in Los Angeles, California at the SoFi Stadium.
Match Details:
Date: Thursday, 27th July 2023
Competition: Soccer Champions Tour 2023
Time: 04:30 pm CET
Venue: SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles, California
Match Overview:
Concluding their last campaign in La Liga as Spanish champions, Barcelona will be eager to continue their momentum and start the new season off strong, be it from pre-season.
The Catalan club is still a growing team under Xavi Hernandez and simultaneously seeks to integrate its newer acquisitions within a side already well-connected and associated with one another from last season.
Barcelona can be expected to line up in a 4-3-3 formation with the utilization of a false winger to act as a fourth midfielder of sorts within the structure of the eleven players that Xavi decides to field against Arsenal.
On the other, their opposition from the English Premier League, Arsenal, had a significant 2022/2023 season. Finishing 2nd within the English league, guaranteeing a place within the UEFA Champions League, the reds from London were subject to a late title charge by Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City, who managed to overtake Arsenal to the Premier League title.
The Gunners’ coach, Mikel Arteta, remains convinced that despite their setback last season, the side from London possesses the quality to hurt even the very best that European football has to offer.
While simply a friendly, FC Barcelona will look at this game as a golden opportunity to take on one of Europe’s finest and test out their own squad against such opposition, a squad that will include star veterans, new arrivals, up-and-coming youngsters as well as returning loanees.
