GAMPER PREVIEW: FC Barcelona v AS Monaco
Monday 12 August is no ordinary day. It's Gamper day! New FC Barcelona coach Hansi Flick appears at the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys for the very first time, and just one week before the competitive season kicks off with a Liga visit to Valencia. And neither is this any ordinary Gamper, for it is heralding in a very special season at the club, which which in three month's time will be celebrating its 125th anniversary and moving back to the new-look Spotify Camp Nou.
But until then, home games like this one will continue at Montjuic. Fittingly, today's guests as are also celebrating an anniversary, in their case none other than their centenary. AS Monaco, runners-up to PSG in last season's French championship, are the Gamper guests for the very first time.
This is the first and only game that Barça will be playing on European soil before the official fixture list gets going. Thus far, things have looked highly promising, with victories over Man City (on penalties) and Real Madrid, and one defeat (also on penalties) to AC Milan on the three-match tour of the United States.
Dani Olmo presentation
As usual, before the Gamper kicks off, the senior staff and squad members will be introduced one by one to the fans. And those include new signing from RB Leipzig, Dani Olmo, who is returning to the club where he spent a large part of his youth, and for whom today's game is doubling as his official presentation.
For fans coming to the game, there is plenty of entertainment and all kinds of activities to be enjoyed in the build-up to the 8pm CEST kick-off, both inside and outside of the ground. But other fan watching from home need not feel that they are missing out, because from 6pm CEST, anyone who has access to the free Barça One streaming service can also enjoy ample coverage of everything that's happening. And that includes all 90 minutes of action on the pitch, with the option of English language commentary too!
This is the first game this preseason for which Ferran Torres and Lamine Yamal are among the selectable players. The trio were all part of Spain's victorious Euro 24 squad and reported back to work too late to travel to the US and have instead been training at the Ciutat Esportiva. Pedri was also in that team, but he returned from France with an injury and is unlikely to feature. Gavi and Frenkie de Jong are also battling back from the injuries that meant they missed parts of last season, and will be watching from the stands.
Fermin Lopez, Eric García (back from a loan year at Girona) and Pau Cubarsi have only just finished helping Spain to another victory, the Olympic games gold medal in Paris, but the latter two were already back at work on Sunday, although whether they play in this game is less certain.
Also absent will be Sergi Roberto, the captain who has decided that the time has come to depart the club. On Tuesday, a special farewell event is being prepared in his honour, although there may be something planned for him at the Gamper too.
As well as Dani Olmo, the other confirmed 'newcomer' to the club is Pau Victor, signed from Girona this summer and who impressed so much in the USA. However, after spending last season as a loanee at Barça Atlètic, his face is already a familiar one at the club.
Centennial Monaco
Today's guests, Monaco, are coming on the back of a fabulous French championship in which they finished as runners-up. They are appearing at this event just a matter of days before they celebrate their one hundredth year of existence on August 23. This is also their last game of the preseason, with just win, two draws and three defeats to show from their friendly efforts thus far.
The side coached by Adi Hütter are also finalising preparations before their own league seasons gets going with a fixture against Saint-Étienne next weekend. Although Monaco have never played at the Gamper before, they have played Barça four times in the past, and are still looking for their first win over the Catalans.