FC Barcelona vs Juventus: Sizzling Showdown in San Francisco

SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA — United States soccer fans are in for mouth-watering treat on Saturday as European giants FC Barcelona and Juventus serve up a sizzling summer showdown replete with an irresistible melange of big name veterans, new faces, and the unmistakable scent of anticipation that annually accompanies the preseason opener. It’s a dish that promises to delight as both teams begin to tinker with the ingredients to make everything just right in time for the start of the 2023/24 regular season.

For Barça, the man charged with cooking it all up is third-year manager Xavi Hernández, who is fresh off leading his team to the 2022/23 La Liga title. Saturday's game is the first of four for Barça in the United States this summer. 

Kickoff on Saturday is set for 7:30pm PT (4:30am CEST on Sunday) at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, just a stone’s throw from the San Francisco Bay Area and the region’s world famous Wine Country.

Fresh and Ready 

Whatever you thought of last season's title winning Barça, this year's side will have a slightly different flavor. The addition of new signings Iñigo Martínez, İlkay Gündoğan, and Oriol Romeu will make a notable impact in all facets of the game. The latter two will likely make their debuts against La Vecchia Signora. Iñigo Martínez, however, is still out recovering from an injury and will not see action.

The game is Barça's first of four scheduled on this summer's tour in the United States and comes following more than a week of training in Barcelona and four workouts since arriving in Los Angeles on Wednesday.