FC Barcelona concluded their England training camp with an internal fixture after their scheduled friendly against Preston North End fell through due to player availability issues at the English club. Manager Hansi Flick organised the in-house match at St. George’s Park on Monday, 3 August 2026, as reported by SPORT.
The cancellation of the Preston fixture prompted Flick to arrange alternative competitive action for his squad. The training match took place on Pitch 6, the venue named after England legend Sir Bobby Charlton, and provided valuable opportunities to assess squad fitness ahead of the new season.
Format and Result
The session ran from shortly before midday and comprised three 20-minute periods, concluding in a 1-1 draw.
Flick’s first XI featured Wojciech Szczesny, Xavi Espart, Andreas Christensen, Gerard Martin, Jofre Torrents, Marc Bernal, Marc Casado, Orian Goren, Karim Adeyemi, Ebrima Tunkara, and Alex Gonzalez.
The second team included Iker Rodriguez, Hector Fort, Ronald Araujo, Alvaro Cortes, Jordi Pesquer, Guille Fernandez, Brian Farinas, Fermin Lopez, Roony Bardghji, Toni Fernandez, and Raphinha.
Injury Recovery Breakthroughs
The fixture delivered significant positive developments in the recovery department. Ronald Araujo, Raphinha, and Fermin Lopez all completed the match without issue, marking important milestones in their respective rehabilitation programmes.
Araujo and Raphinha are now expected to feature in the triangular tournament scheduled for Udine on 8 August. Both players’ availability represents a considerable boost to Flick’s defensive and attacking options.
Fermin’s recovery has progressed faster than originally anticipated. The midfielder, who had targeted a return for the Joan Gamper Trophy against Al Ahly on 19 August, netted during the training match.
His accelerated timeline raises the possibility of involvement in Barcelona’s friendly against Ittihad Tanger in Morocco on 15 August, should his progress maintain its current trajectory.
Xavi Espart scored the other goal in the contest.
Ongoing Rehabilitation Cases
Not all squad members were cleared to participate. Alejandro Balde, who started pre-season with back discomfort, remains unavailable for full training despite making substantial progress.
Balde completed individual work rather than joining the group fixture. Frenkie de Jong, continuing his recovery from a knee injury, underwent individual treatment before taking a place on the sideline to observe the remainder of proceedings.
What This Means for Barcelona’s Season Preparation
The successful returns of three key players significantly strengthens Flick’s preparations for the 2026-27 campaign. Araujo’s availability solidifies the defensive line, while Raphinha’s return bolsters the attacking flank ahead of competitive fixtures in early August.
Fermin’s ahead-of-schedule progress adds midfield depth for the upcoming tournaments. Meanwhile, Balde and De Jong’s continued absence means Flick must manage their integration carefully upon return, with limited time before competitive action resumes.
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Barcelona departed England later on Monday, concluding their week-long training camp. The squad will receive a brief rest period before resuming full preparations for the forthcoming season.
