Barcelona vs. AS Roma: Team News and Preview for Joan Gamper Trophy
The traditional Camp Nou curtain-raiser comes less than a week before the Catalans take on Sevilla in the European Supercup and Athletic Bilbao twice in the Spanish Supercup.
By the end of this mini-series of games, Barca will have played four times in 12 days and all before the opening game of the La Liga season.
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With tickets readily available, locals and tourists alike will get their first chance to see their heroes on home soil this season and as such we can expect a packed stadium.
Date: Wednesday, August 5
Time: 9 p.m. BST/4 p.m. ET
Venue: Camp Nou, Barcelona, Spain
Form Lines
| Barcelona | AS Roma |
| L 1-2 vs. Fiorentina | D 2-2 vs. Manchester City |
| D 2-2 vs. Chelsea | D 0-0 vs. Real Madrid |
| L 1-3 vs. Manchester United | L 1-2 vs. Palermo |
| W 2-1 vs. Los Angeles Galaxy | W 2-1 vs. Lazio |
| W 3-1 vs. Juventus | W 2-1 vs. Udinese |
| W 3-1 vs. Athletic Club de Bilbao | L 1-2 vs. AC Milan |
Predicted Lineups
Although Arda Turan and Aleix Vidal will make an appearance, it will be only be to introduce them to the crowd before the match as the FIFA transfer ban prohibits them from playing in this final pre-season friendly.
Barca have everyone back from their holidays now and so Lionel Messi, Neymar, Dani Alves and Javier Mascherano will join the party to give them some much needed sharpness before the Supercup games.
Marc-Andre ter Stegen hasn't disgraced himself to this point so Luis Enrique may stick with him at the start before introducing Claudio Bravo after half-time.
The Chilean has had a magnificent 2015 but does his German colleague have the jump on him given that he reported back for training 11 days earlier than planned and looks sharp and composed?
Jordi Alba and Gerard Pique will make up a familiar-looking back line.
Given the quality of opposition, we could well see Enrique go for a full-strength starting XI even if the Catalans finish the match with a totally different outfield.
Andres Iniesta, Sergio Busquets and Ivan Rakitic won't have it all of their own way however against the likes of Daniele De Rossi and Radja Nainggolan.
Ex-Blaugrana Seydou Keita is sure to play some of the match against the team where he enjoyed four trophy-laden years. Should Rudi Garcia opt for a 4-4-2, then the Malian will anchor a midfield that should also include Miralem Pjanic.
The effervescent Francesco Totti will lead the line at 38 years of age alongside 22-year-old Juan Iturbe.
The youngster has yet to set Serie A alight but a decent showing here could put him in the frame for a run in the side.
Ashley Cole won't relish being given the runaround by a hungry Luis Suarez, who has been Barca's best player in pre-season so far.
Garcia won't want to be disgraced so a young defence may have to be shelved for this one. Leandro Castan, Maicon and Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa could therefore join Cole as experienced heads.
Wojciech Szczesny might get an early chance to prove himself ahead of Morgan De Sanctis in goal but won't want to be reminded of the last time he played at the venue when he was substituted after just 19 minutes of Arsenal's Champions League encounter with the Catalans.
Player to Watch
If things had been different, Miralem Pjanic could well have been lining up for Barca in this one.
Back in 2009, the player's father told the Guardian (h/t Sky Sports):
"I went to Barcelona, the negotiations were very fair and they made us a specific offer.
But it was a turbulent time for the club after (coach Frank) Rijkaard had left and I thought it wasn't smart for an 18-year-old to go to Barcelona at such a time.
"
Pjanic is nicknamed The Painter because of his artistry on the ball and Barca's midfield will have their work cut out to keep him quiet for 90 minutes.
He is effective in both a No. 10 role or as a regista and with Keita likely to play a full part, it's in the former role which we may see the Bosnia and Herzegovina international thrive.
The Catalans should be wary of giving away free-kicks around the penalty box because they will be punished by Pjanic if he's given a sight of goal.
Key Battle
If he's in the mood, Radja Nainggolan will run Barca ragged in this game.
A robust and energetic midfielder, the Belgian is likely to be the fulcrum of any good work from the visitors.
Playing mostly in a right-sided berth, he will be in direct combat with Barca captain Andres Iniesta.
The contrast in styles couldn't be more different, with Iniesta's twinkle-toes dancing to Barca's tune whilst Nainggolan is a real tour de force whose drive and determination have won him many friends in the Italian capital.
Nainggolan will engage at every opportunity and look to disrupt the flow of passing into, and from, Iniesta.
Against one of the finest competitors that Roma has to offer, Iniesta may find his defensive capabilities are tested more than he might like here.
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