FC Barcelona
FC Barcelona
Barcelona will continue its preparations for the 2026/27 season on Friday when it faces Birmingham City in its second preseason friendly, giving Hansi Flick another opportunity to evaluate his squad ahead of the LaLiga opener.
With several internationals still on vacation following the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the German manager is once again expected to field a combination of experienced first-team players and promising La Masia graduates.
The match could also mark the long-awaited debut of summer signing Karim Adeyemi, one of the biggest storylines heading into the game.
Flick Keeps an Eye on Barcelona's Young Talent
The club's training camp in England offers another valuable opportunity for several academy players to prove they are ready to compete for a place in the senior squad this season.
Prospects such as Guille Fernández, Òscar Gistau, Gerard Martín, and Héctor Fort will look to impress the coaching staff, while established players including Wojciech Szczesny, Andreas Christensen, and Ronald Araújo continue building match fitness ahead of the competitive campaign.
With another friendly against Preston North End still to come, Flick is expected to continue rotating his squad throughout the tour.
Barcelona Predicted Lineup
Flick is expected to stick with a balanced lineup that blends experience and youth against Birmingham City. With several regular starters still unavailable, Barcelona's academy graduates will once again have the chance to showcase their talent and strengthen their case for first-team minutes this season.
Adeyemi's expected debut will be one of the main attractions of the match, while players such as Wojciech Szczesny, Andreas Christensen, Alejandro Balde, Marc Casadó, and Marc Bernal will look to continue gaining valuable minutes before the start of the new campaign.
Goalkeeper: Wojciech Szczesny
Defenders: Héctor Fort, Andreas Christensen, Gerard Martín, Alejandro Balde
Midfielders: Marc Casadó, Marc Bernal, Guille Fernández
Forwards: Roony Bardghji, Òscar Gistau, Karim Adeyemi