Barcelona will face Chelsea in the first pre-season friendly of 2019/20
The La Liga title-holders will take on the UEFA Europa League champions in the first pre-season friendly for both clubs. Barcelona and Chelsea will face off at the Saitama Stadium in Japan, with many youngsters expected to be awarded opportunities.
Most senior first-team players have been excluded from the trip to Japan, including Lionel Messi and Luis Suárez. 8 players from Barcelona B have also been called up to replace the superstars, and will have a chance to prove their worth to Ernesto Valverde.
Expected Starting XI (4-4-2):
Goalkeeper: Neto
Right-back: Nélson Semedo
Centre-back(right): Jean-Clair Todibo
Centre-back(left): Samuel Umtiti
Left-back: Jordi Alba
Right midfielder: Carles Aleñá
Central playmaker(right): Frenkie de Jong
Central playmaker(left): Monchu
Left midfielder: Riqui Puig
Shadow striker: Hiroki Abe
Centre-forward: Antoine Griezmann
New signing Neto will probably be put up in goal, with Iñaki Peña coming to replace the ex-Juventus shot-stopper in the second-half. In defence, a fairly familiar lineup is expected. With a backup missing from the squad, Jordi Alba will be starting.
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Samuel Umtiti will also be awarded an opportunity to make his mark against a top club after missing out on most of last season. The other centre-back spot is set to go to Jean-Clair Todibo or Ronald Araújo from the B team.
A four-man midfield could be tested by Valverde, due to the abundance of talent in the middle of the park. The left-footed Carles Aleñá could operate down the right, with Riqui Puig cutting in from the left. Big signing Frenkie de Jong is sure to start.
The other midfield spot is contentious. Monchu is the favourite to bag it, although Oriol Busquets also deserves an opportunity. A two-man attack could consist of the two new signings, Antoine Griezmann and Japanese youngster Hiroki Abe.
Griezmann could be tested in a Suárez-esque role, while Abe should be familiar with the atmosphere. There will be large-scale substitutions that will be made. Some senior players like Ivan Rakitić and Gerard Piqué may need to come in if the side is trailing.
Otherwise, attacking midfielder Álex Collado and right-back Guillem Jaime could get a few minutes. Valverde could even change the formation mid-way, maybe introducing a bit more width by bringing on Malcom or Ousmane Dembélé.