FC Barcelona will play their last preseason friendlies on August 12, 2024, against AS Monaco. This will be a game for the prestige trophy at Estadi OlÃmpic LluÃs Companys and will kick off at 11:30 PM IST. For the Bavarians, this final pre-season test gives head coach Hansi Flick the all-important opportunity to assess squad depth, approaches, and a look at some of the rising talents from La Masia before the beginning of the 2024-25 campaign.
The Hansi Flick Era
The Hansi Flick era at FC Barcelona has already given some glimpses of promise. Their pre-season campaign has been littered with competitive games against top opposition, setting the tone for hopefully what ends up being a successful season. Barcelona got off to a flyers in their pre-season with a pulsating game against Manchester City, which the Catalans won on penalties following a 2-2 stalemate in normal time. This victory marked a very promising start under Flick.
That was then continued by another fine performance when Barcelona managed to beat their eternal rivals, Real Madrid, 2-1. This was nicely displayed in flicks of tactical acumen and the fighting spirit within the team, as crucial playmakers clicked at those crucial moments. The momentum will be halted even as Barcelona faces AC Milan in the following friendly. While that was impressive, the result went sour, losing 4-3 on penalties after a 2-2 draw, illustrating areas that still need to be fine-tuned.
The Joan Gamper Trophy: A Crucial Test
The upcoming game against AS Monaco goes beyond a friendly test; it is a litmus test for Flick and his team. As is the tradition with Barca, the Joan Gamper Trophy is often used to give fans a feel of what might be expected from them in the new season.
For Flick, though, it will be the last opportunity to have an idea of what to expect from his team before they really get underway into the competitive season. Fielding a mix of experienced pros and La Masia talents, Barcelona aims to really make an impression against an impressive Monaco side.
