Barcelona vs Juventus: With around 9 hours to go for their first pre-season match against Juventus, Barcelona have announced that they will not be able to play the match. They released a statement saying, a number of players and crew in their squad are suffering from viral gastroenteritis. Same as Barcelona, this match was supposed to be Juventus’ first friendly following the end of last season. However, both teams will now have to change their schedule. Barcelona next play Arsenal, while Juventus will next play AC Milan in pre-season club friendlies.
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Barcelona were set to play their first 2023-24 pre-season match against Juventus tomorrow. However, due to a group of first-team units falling into sickness, they had to cancel the match. They released a statement saying, “FC Barcelona hereby informs that the game against Juventus FC, scheduled for today, July 22 at 7:30 pm local time (4.30am Sunday CEST) at Levi’s Stadium, as part of the Soccer Champions Tour, has been canceled. A significant part of the blaugrana squad has a viral gastroenteritis.”
As per reports, over 10 people in the first-team unit have already been affected. This includes players and backroom staff. The blockbuster match was set to happen on 24th July Levi’s Stadium in California. Following the end of last season in June, this was supposed to be the first pre-season friendly match for both Barcelona and Juventus. However, they will now have to change their schedule. Barcelona will get ready to play Arsenal in their next scheduled friendly on July 27th in the United States.
Whereas, reportedly, in the cancellation of the match, Juventus will train in San Francisco on the scheduled day. Now they might change their schedule and fly out to Los Angeles earlier to prepare for their next scheduled friendly match against Serie A rivals AC Milan. Barcelona have brought about significant changes in this transfer window. This includes the arrival of Ilkay Gundogan and Inigo Martinez. Both of these players were due to make their non-competitive debut for Barcelona in this match against Juventus.
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Barcelona and Juventus are set to open talks because the Serie A club coach Massimiliano Allegri has shown some interest in Barcelona’s midfielder Franck Kessie. Kessi is Allegri’s top target to replace Paul Pogba. There have been rumours that Pogba might leave this summer. Juventus are also ready to let him go on a cut-price deal. Kessi joined Barcelona only a year ago. However, Blaugrana might agree on selling if a good deal comes their way as they are trying to balance their books to end their long period of financial instability.
Barcelona next matches
Friendly fixtures
July 27 – vs Arsenal – 8:00 AM
July 30 – vs Real Madrid – 2:30 AM
August 2 – vs AC Milan – 8:30 AM
August 8 – vs Tottenham Hotspur – 11:30 PM
First La Liga fixture
vs Getafe – August 14 – 1:00 AM
Juventus next matches
Friendly fixtures
vs AC Milan – July 28 – 8:00 AM
vs Real Madrid – August 3 – 5:00 AM
First Serie A fixture
vs Udinese – August 21 – 12:15 AM
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