According to a report by the Spanish sports daily SPORT, FC Barcelona’s planned third summer friendly in the United Kingdom has been canceled because EFL Championship side Preston North End failed to assemble a first-team squad for the fixture. The match was originally scheduled for Monday, August 3, but the English club prioritized an upcoming EFL Cup tie against Huddersfield.
Barcelona Pre-Season Tour in Great Britain
Head coach Hansi Flick planned the British training camp to test his squad ahead of a demanding campaign where the Catalan club intends to compete across all fronts. Prior to the canceled fixture, Barcelona played two matches on UK soil under Flick’s direction. The team secured a 4–1 victory against CE Europa and played to a 2–2 draw with Birmingham City, eventually losing 2–3 in a penalty shootout, according to SPORT.
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Preston North End Prioritizes EFL Cup Over Friendly
The fixture fell through when Preston North End officials determined they could not field a senior squad for the Monday kickoff. According to SPORT, the English club assigned a higher priority to their Saturday, August 8 EFL Cup clash against Huddersfield. Faced with depleted personnel, Preston management approached FC Barcelona at the last minute with an unusual request: they asked the Spanish giants to accept a match against a U-21 youth side instead.
Flick and Coaching Staff Opt for Training Session
Flick and his coaching staff promptly declined the proposal to play Preston’s youth team. Instead of participating in the altered fixture, the Barcelona squad will hold an additional training session to maintain their pre-season rhythm. According to SPORT, this administrative hiccup is expected to have minimal impact on the team’s overall preparation for the new season, though it serves as a logistical lesson for future tour planning.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why was FC Barcelona’s match against Preston North End canceled?
According to SPORT, Preston North End could not assemble a first-team squad for the August 3 friendly because they prioritized their upcoming EFL Cup match against Huddersfield.
What did Barcelona do instead of playing the friendly?
After declining Preston’s offer to play their U-21 team, Hansi Flick and his coaching staff opted to hold an additional training session.
How many matches did Barcelona play on their UK tour?
Barcelona played two matches in the UK prior to the cancellation: a 4–1 win against CE Europa and a 2–2 draw (2–3 on penalties) against Birmingham City.
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