Sports Mole previews Monday’s friendly clash between Barcelona and Monaco, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.
Barcelona will round off their preparations for the 2024-25 campaign with a clash against Ligue 1 outfit Monaco in the Joan Gamper Trophy on Monday night.
The Catalan outfit will begin their La Liga season against Valencia on August 17, while Monaco’s new domestic campaign will start at home to Saint-Etienne on the same evening.
Match preview
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Barcelona have only played three friendlies this summer, opening their preparations for the new campaign with a 2-2 draw against Manchester City at the end of July, before winning the resulting penalty shootout.
Hansi Flick‘s side then recorded a 2-1 victory over Real Madrid, before playing out a 2-2 draw with AC Milan, losing on penalties to the Italian side, with all three games taking place in the United States.
The Catalan outfit will now tackle Monaco in the Joan Gamper Trophy on Monday evening, before travelling to Mestalla to tackle Valencia in their opening match of the 2024-25 La Liga campaign on August 17.
Barcelona have made two signings this summer, bringing in Pau Victor and Dani Olmo, but there are expected to be more incomings before the end of the transfer window, with the club allegedly not yet giving up hope of convincing Athletic Bilbao’s Nico Williams to move to Camp Nou.
Blaugrana have won the Joan Gamper Trophy on 46 occasions, and they recorded a 4-2 victory over Tottenham Hotspur in this particular fixture last year.
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Monaco have played six friendlies this summer, opening their preparations for the new season with a 1-0 success over Servette at the start of July, before drawing their next two against Cercle Brugge and Sturm Graz.
The principality outfit then won their next two against Feyenoord and Club Brugge II, but they will enter this match off the back of a 2-1 defeat to Genoa.
Adi Hutter‘s side will round off their preparations for the new season against Barcelona before opening their Ligue 1 campaign at home to Saint-Etienne on August 17.
Monaco have made three signings this summer, with the biggest of those in terms of a transfer fee proving to be 17-year-old forward George Ilenikhena, while Wissam Ben Yedder has been their most notable departure.
Les Rouge et Blanc finished second in Ligue 1 last season, nine points behind the champions Paris Saint-Germain, and they will compete in the group stage of the 2024-25 Champions League.
Barcelona friendly form:
Monaco friendly form:
Team News
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Olmo is in line to make his Barcelona debut against Monaco on Monday, with the Spain international arriving at Camp Nou on Friday.
The Euro 2024 winner could operate alongside Robert Lewandowski and Raphinha in the final third of the field, with Lamine Yamal potentially making his first pre-season appearance off the bench.
There will be changes from the side that started against Milan last time out, with Jules Kounde and Inigo Martinez expected to come into the back four, but Marc Casado could keep his spot in midfield, as the likes of Frenkie de Jong, Gavi and Pedri are still unavailable through injury.
Fermin Lopez, Eric Garcia and Pau Cubarsi will also not feature, having helped Spain win the Olympic gold medal match against France on Friday night.
As for Monaco, Youssouf Fofana could be involved despite the speculation surrounding his future, with AC Milan and Manchester United both being linked with the France international.
Vanderson has also been linked with a departure this summer but is expected to stay, and the Brazilian should be among the starters against the Catalan team.
Folarin Balogun and Breel Embolo could feature as the front two, with Ilenikhena potentially being involved off the bench in the second half of the contest.
Barcelona possible starting lineup:
Ter Stegen; Kounde, I Martinez, Lenglet, Balde; Casado, Gundogan, Christensen; OImo, Lewandowski, Raphinha
Monaco possible starting lineup:
Majecki; Vanderson, Kehrer, Salisu, Singo; Zakaria, Fofana, Matazo; Golovin; Embolo, Balogun
We say: Barcelona 2-1 Monaco
Monaco are a strong side, but Barcelona have not lost this particular fixture since 2012, and they have scored 13 times in their last three Joan Gamper Trophy games. We are expecting a tight game on Monday, but Barcelona should be able to navigate their way to a win.
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