Barca's summer has been disrupted by an illness spreading throughout the squad, forcing a game against Juventus to be cancelled before a 5-3 defeat to Arsenal, but have since fully recovered and ready to take on their long-time rivals. Real Madrid, meanwhile, saw off Manchester United with ease as Jude Bellingham scored his first goal for the club in a 2-0 win and have confirmed the squad is "complete" after splashing up to £115million on the midfielder.
Xavi Hernandez should have surprises in store with regards to his line up and tactics when FC Barcelona take on Real Madrid at Cowboys Stadium on Saturday.
Barca will play just their second game of the preseason in Arlington, Texas after a virus wiped out most of the squad a week ago in Santa Clara.
This meant that a scheduled meeting with Juventus had to be scrapped, and Barca finally made their 2023 debut in the US at the SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles on Wednesday against Arsenal.
Real Madrid had multiple chances, but Vinicius Jr hit the crossbar on a first-half penalty kick, and Madrid hit the woodwork four other times as the finishing failed a team seeking to find its way without longtime captain and top scorer Karim Benzema, who moved to Saudi Arabia.
FC Barcelona goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen celebrates a defensive stop during the second half of a Champions Tour soccer match against Real Madrid at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. FC Barcelona won 3-0. Real Madrid defender Daniel Carvajal (2) tries to dribble past FC Barcelona defender Marcos Alonso, left, and forward Fermin Lopez (29) during the second half of a Champions Tour soccer match at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
Barcelona have earned bragging rights in three of their last four meetings, but Real Madrid won the most recent clash 4-0. Follow the game LIVE below with our dedicated match blog.
Jules Kounde will be happy to partner Andreas Christensen in central defense and not be deployed at right back.
Instead, as has been the case in most Clasicos as of late, Ronald Araujo will be placed there to contain Vinicius Jr.
Though he has been absent on the tour so far, Gavi is expected to be Xavi's trump card at some stage in the proceedings which could prompt a shift to the 4-3-3 formation that uses him as a false left winger.
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