FC Barcelona is set to conclude its pre-season preparations by hosting Italian Serie A side Como 1907 for the 60th edition of the Joan Gamper Trophy on Sunday, August 10, 2025. The annual curtain-raiser, held at the Estadi Johan Cruyff, promises to be an emotionally charged affair, marked by the return of club legend Cesc Fàbregas, who now manages the Italian team.
The match serves as the final test for Hansi Flick’s squad before they commence their La Liga title defense against Mallorca on August 16. Barcelona returns from a successful and high-scoring pre-season tour of Asia, where they secured victories against Vissel Kobe (3-1), FC Seoul (7-3), and Daegu FC. According to reports, the tour showcased the team’s formidable attacking firepower, but also highlighted some defensive areas to address before the competitive season begins. The attacking trio of Lamine Yamal, Robert Lewandowski, and Raphinha was a consistent feature, though Lewandowski has since been ruled out of the Gamper Trophy with an injury.
The spotlight will undoubtedly be on the visiting dugout. Fàbregas, a celebrated graduate of Barça’s La Masia academy, returns to his former home for the first time as a manager. He is not the only familiar face making a comeback; former Barcelona captain Sergi Roberto, who joined Como last summer, and ex-academy product Álex Valle, who made his loan move permanent, are also part of the Italian squad. Como, who are preparing for their own Serie A campaign, have had an active pre-season with victories over Al-Ahli, Ajax, and Real Betis.
On the team news front, Barcelona is navigating several key absences and registration hurdles. First-choice goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen is sidelined for an expected 3-5 months following back surgery in late July. This leaves Iñaki Peña as the likely starter, with new signings Wojciech Szczęsny and Joan García awaiting registration. Newcomer Dani Olmo is also a doubt for the match.
The club is also working to register several other players. According to Yahoo Sports, Marcus Rashford, on loan from Manchester United, is expected to feature despite his registration status remaining unresolved. The English forward expressed confidence that the club would sort out the situation. Young talents Roony Bardghji and Gerard Martín are also awaiting their official registration. The recent departure of defender Iñigo Martínez to Al-Nassr has freed up some salary space, which is expected to help the process. In addition to Lewandowski, forward Ferran Torres remains unavailable as he recovers from appendix surgery.
For Como, this will be their first-ever encounter with Barcelona, making them the ninth Italian club to participate in the prestigious pre-season tournament. Their recent 3-2 comeback victory over Real Betis demonstrated their competitive spirit, though the match was marred by several altercations.
Based on available information, the predicted lineups are as follows:
Barcelona (4-2-3-1): Garcia; Eric, Araújo, Cubarsí, Balde; De Jong, Pedri; Yamal, Fermín, Raphinha; Rashford.
Como: Andrés Fernández; Rodríguez, Moreno, Vignali, Valle; Iovine, Gattuso, Verdi; Belotti, Azón, Diao.
The match is scheduled to kick off at 9:00 PM CET (8:00 PM BST / 3:00 PM ET). Fans worldwide can watch the game for free on Barcelona’s official YouTube channel, with other broadcasters including ESPN+ in the USA, DAZN in Italy, and Premier Sports in the UK.
