Competing for the annual Joan Gamper Trophy, Barcelona and Como will wrap up their busy pre-season campaigns on Sunday.
Both clubs are back in competitive action next week, with Barca set to welcome home Cesc Fabregas just days before starting their La Liga title defence.
Match preview
Continuing to warm up for the 2025-26 season, Barcelona posted a third straight win on their pre-season tour of Asia with Monday's 5-0 thumping of South Korean side Daegu.
The Spanish champions had previously cruised to a 3-1 victory over Vissel Kobe and dealt out a 7-3 thrashing to FC Seoul, with new signing Roony Bardghji among the many scorers.
So, Hansi Flick's side will aim to put another win on the board this weekend, before kicking off their 2025-26 La Liga season away to Mallorca on August 16.
Set for another fascinating battle with Real Madrid over the coming months, the Catalan giants have added Marcus Rashford to their attacking options and signed Joan Garcia as their new number one goalkeeper.
Club president Joan Laporta has since claimed that Barca's transfer business - at least in terms of incomings - is already done, so Flick's squad seems settled.
Now, the Blaugrana have one last friendly to fulfil before the real action starts, as one of their own returns to Camp Nou. Como manager Cesc Fabregas pictured in May 2024
A product of the famed La Masia academy, Cesc Fabregas spent two spells at his boyhood club during an illustrious playing career, and he now heads back to Barcelona as a highly-rated head coach.
Towards the end of a successful Serie A comeback campaign, his Como side won six straight games to gatecrash the top 10 last term, backing up lofty aims.
Under their rookie coach, the Lariani finished 10th after overcoming a slow start, ultimately flourishing on their return to Italy's elite level after two decades away.
Having invested significant sums again in the off-season - most notably bringing in Jesus Rodriguez and keeping hold of star man Nico Paz - Como could be a fixture in Serie A's top half for years to come.
Backed in the transfer market by ambitious owners and boasting a much-admired manager, they seem set to build on such solid foundations in 2025-26, having recently beaten Lille, Ajax, Al-Ahli and Real Betis in pre-season.
The Lombardy club's raised profile has even seen them invited to play Barcelona, before competitive football resumes with a first-round Coppa Italia tie against Sudtirol next weekend.
Barcelona pre-season form: W W W
Como pre-season form: W W W W
Team News
Barcelona's Marcus Rashford with Marc Casado on July 27, 2025
With former captain Marc-Andre ter Stegen ruled out for several months, Joan Garcia should continue between the posts for Barcelona on Sunday, though Wojciech Szczesny made a second-half appearance against Daegu.
Once again, Lamine Yamal and Raphinha are set for spots in the final third, but Robert Lewandowski may miss out with a thigh strain so Ferran Torres is expected to start.
Roony Bardghji and Marcus Rashford - both of whom are still waiting to confirm their La Liga registrations - would therefore be consigned to the bench: Rashford has only featured as an impact substitute since signing on loan from Manchester United.
Meanwhile, Como's main arrivals have been Nico Kuhn, Jesus Rodriguez, Dutch winger Jayden Addai and Croatian starlet Martin Baturina - the latter pair started Wednesday's 3-2 win over Real Betis.
Maximo Perrone was sent off in that match, but the ex-Manchester City midfielder should still feature for the visitors; only long-term absentee Alberto Dossena is unavailable.
Following Pepe Reina's retirement, the visitors' undisputed first-choice goalkeeper is Jean Butez, but Cesc Fabregas is apparently interested in Barcelona reserve Inaki Pena. Ex-Barca full-back Alex Valle has already joined the Lariani this summer, while Sergi Roberto should be named on the bench.
Barcelona possible starting lineup: Garcia; Kounde, Araujo, Cubarsi, Balde; De Jong, Gavi; Yamal, Pedri, Raphinha; Torres
Como possible starting lineup: Butez; Van Der Brempt, Kempf, Goldaniga, Valle; Perrone, Baturina; Rodriguez, Paz, Diao; Douvikas
SM words green background
We say: Barcelona 3-2 Como
Ambitious Como have proved they can score freely - racking up 12 goals in four friendly wins so far - but Barcelona's sheer weight of attacking quality could see them beaten bravely at Camp Nou.
While perhaps a little light at the back, Barca have a whole range of options to choose from everywhere else, and they are set to reclaim the Joan Gamper Trophy.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
ID:578883:1false2false3false: from db desktop :LenBod:collect7605:
Previews by email
Click here to get Sports Mole's daily email of previews and predictions for every major game!