BARCELONA VS GIRONA

MATCHES VS GIRONA

5 Matches Played

preparations for the new season continue with a preseason friendly against Girona this evening. Barca's 2019/20 season ended in desperate fashion: the Blaugrana lost their LaLiga title to rivals Real Madrid before crashing out of the Champions League semi-finals in a humiliating 8-2 defeat to eventual winners Bayern Munich. That defeat cost Ernasto Valverde his job, while talisman Lionel Messi tried and failed to leave the club as Barca president Josep Maria Bartomeu won the contract standoff - for now, at least. New head coach Ronald Koeman now has the huge task of attempting to bring an openly defiant Messi back onside, while Barca must find a way to restore their domestic dominance and also compete in Europe. So, no pressure then.

TEAM NEWS

Ousmane Dembele will be pushing for more minutes after the injury-plagued winger scored in the 3-1 preseason win over Gimnàstic Tarragona - his first goal for 342 days. Philippe Coutinho also scored on his return to the club and looks set to play a role in Koeman's side this season, while new signings Pedri and Trincao also looked solid as Koeman lined up with a 4-2-3-1 formation. Two La Masia prospects - Iñaki Peña and Konrad de la Fuente - made their debuts in that game and will likely be seen against Girona, while Lionel Messi is expected to play again despite his recent contract standoff with the board.