Barcelona-Juventus is a friendly and will be played on Saturday night and Sunday at 04:30: news, TV, streaming, likely line-ups, predictions
The United States is still the first test for Massimiliano Allegri’s Juventus. The Bianconeri have set off for the States, where they will play some interesting friendlies in the coming days, starting with the one against Barcelona, who were also challenged in last year’s preseason. The first stop for the Old Lady is Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California, a stone’s throw from San Francisco.
The coach from Livorno, confirmed on the bench despite a disappointing season that ended without even a title for the second year in a row, awaits news from the market. So far this summer session has only brought Timothy Weah as a dowry. The son of art, bought from Lille for 12 million euros, should start immediately in the first overseas friendly. And he will do so in the role that was once played by Juan Cuadrado – who ended up at Inter as a free agent – that is, as a full-band outside player. Milik and Kean will play in attack: Vlahovic, besides being a possible starter, is not at his best and will not be risked by Allegri, who must also do without the injured Rabiot and Fagioli. From the first day the Juventus coach will launch Rovella, back from loan at Monza, and during the match there will also be space for those youngsters of the Next Gen that the coach wanted to bring to the USA such as Huijsen and Yildiz.
Barcelona has so far been much more active in the market than Juventus. They have secured, on a zero-parameter basis, an enormously experienced player like the former City Gundogan, but in attack there is also the newcomer Inigo Martinez, from Athletic Bilbao. In the same way as Allegri, Xavi will also be a special watch in the season to come, despite winning the domestic title: the Catalan club will hardly tolerate another flop at continental level.
Xavi
The Prediction
A year ago, the friendly between Barcelona and Juventus played in the United States ended 2-2, with the Bianconeri, despite suffering the dribbling of the Catalans, managed to take advantage of the few chances conceded by the Blaugrana. Xavi’s men undoubtedly have something more than Juve and are favourites but the feeling is that, with so few minutes in the legs, anything can happen. The total goals, like last year, will probably be at least three.
Barcelona v Juventus likely line-ups
- BARCELONA (4-3-3): ter Stegen; Koundé, Araujo, Christensen, Marcos Alonso; Pedri, de Jong, Gundogan; Dembelé, Lewandowski, Gavi.
- JUVENTUS (3-5-2): Szczesny; Gatti, Bremer, Danilo; Weah, McKennie, Locatelli, Rovella, Kostic; Milik, Kean.
POSSIBLE RESULT: 2-2
