Inter Miami vs FC Barcelona: Match Preview and Build-Up
Inter Miami vs FC Barcelona: On Tuesday evening, Barcelona will play a preseason friendly match against MLS club Inter Miami to continue their preparations for the 2022-2023 campaign. Inter Miami is a member of the MLS.
The first match of the Catalan club’s preseason was on July 13 against Olot. The result was a 1-1 tie. On the same day, Inter Miami won their Major League Soccer match against Charlotte FC by a score of 3-2.
Inter Miami will come into this match on the heels of a remarkable comeback victory over Charlotte on Saturday evening. Phil Neville’s side overcame a two-goal deficit to win 3-2. Emerson Rodriguez scored the game-winning goal in the 93rd minute of the contest.
The outcome pushed the Herons into ninth place in the Eastern Conference. Thus, giving them a total of 25 points after their first 20 matches of the season.
Inter Miami will return to Major League Soccer action on July 23 against New York City. But before that, they will play a glamour friendly against a European powerhouse. Barcelona will make the journey to the DRV PNK Stadium to take on Inter Miami.
Gonzalo Higuain scored for Neville’s team in their most recent match versus Charlotte after coming off the bench. Other members of Neville’s team include DeAndre Yedlin, Kieran Gibbs, and others.
David Beckham is a part-owner of the Miami club, which was just established in 2018. The club continues to be associated with some of the best players in the world, such as Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.
Neville informed reporters before the competition, “My team and I believe it’s the biggest match in the club’s history. This is the first time in the history of Inter Miami that this stadium has ever been sold out for a game.”
On the other hand, Barcelona started their preseason on July 13 with a 1-1 draw against Olot. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was the scorer for the Catalan giants in the match against Olot.
As part of their preseason tour, the team captained by Xavi has already arrived in the United States. They will compete in friendlies against Inter Miami, Real Madrid, and Juventus, as well as the New York Red Bulls.
Next, on August 7, Barcelona will compete against Pumas for the Joan Gamper Trophy. The following week, on August 13, they will host Rayo Vallecano for the start of the 2022-2023 La Liga season.
Even though they are having financial difficulties, the Catalan side has made some major moves in the transfer market this summer. They have acquired Raphinha and Robert Lewandowski from Leeds United and Bayern Munich, respectively. Franck Kessie and Andreas Christensen have joined the club on free transfers.
Frenkie de Jong is still strongly linked with a transfer to Manchester United. But it is believed that the Netherlands international is still refusing to leave Camp Nou. The club is under pressure to make a significant sale this summer to balance the books. Frenkie de Jong is one of the players that has been strongly linked with a transfer.
Inter Miami vs FC Barcelona: Team News and Probable Playing XI
As a result of their injuries, Inter Miami will once again be without the services of Robbie Robinson and Ian Fray. The host team may or may not have Ariel Lassiter and Brek Shea available to play.
Former Arsenal defender Gibbs may get some playing time at the defense after Damion Lowe was also replaced at the halftime break of the match against Charlotte FC the previous time out.
Higuain will be hoping for the opportunity to play against Barcelona. Nevertheless, the seasoned striker is slated to start on the bench. Leonardo Campana is expected to once again lead the line in front of the goal.
Inter Miami’s Probable Playing XI: Callender; Yedlin, Gibbs, Sailor, Mcvey; Gregore, Mota; Taylor, Pozuelo, Vassilev; Campana
Since Lewandowski is now in Miami with his new colleagues for Barcelona, there is a possibility that the veteran striker may make his debut for the Catalan club in this encounter.
Christensen and Raphinha are also candidates to make their debuts, while Kessie, who appeared for 45 minutes against Olot in the last match, will be aiming to play for his new club for the second time.
In addition, highly-touted prodigy Pablo Torre relocated to Barcelona this summer. The Spanish player will be looking to make another appearance on Tuesday night.
It is anticipated that Xavi will choose a strong team for the opening whistle, with players such as Gavi, Pedri, and Ferran Torres having a chance to play. Additionally, Ousmane Dembele, who only returned to the club last week, may also have a chance to play.
In light of the current rumors and conjecture, a decision will also need to be taken about De Jong’s participation.
FC Barcelona’s Probable Playing XI: Ter Stegen; Dest, Araujo, E Garcia, Alba; Gavi, Busquets, Pedri; F Torres, Aubameyang, Dembele
Match Details:
Date: July 20, 2022
Time: 5:30 AM IST
Venue: DRV PNK Stadium
Inter Miami vs FC Barcelona: Where To Watch?
Fans can watch the game on Barca TV+ with a subscription
Match Predictions:
Because they are currently in the middle of their league season, Inter Miami will undoubtedly provide Barcelona with a strong challenge. On the other hand, Barcelona will have a higher level of players across the board. As a result, we anticipate that the Catalan team will come out on top on Tuesday night.
We can expect a scoreline of Inter Miami 1-3 FC Barcelona.
