FC Barcelona and Manchester City will go up against each other in a midweek friendly ahead of their respective league games scheduled for this weekend. The timing for the upcoming clash is particularly odd with both the Spanish and English top-flight leagues already underway. However, both teams deserve plaudits as the cause they aim to support is very much a worthy one.
All proceeds from Wednesday night's encounter will go towards ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) research at Luzón Foundation in support of Juan Carlos Unzué - a former teammate of Pep Guardiola and a coach at Barca - who was diagnosed with the neurodegenerative disease over two years ago. On the subject of the clash, it will be the first meeting between Barca and Man City since 2016. Back then, the Citizens strolled to a 3-1 defeat in a Champions League group stage affair after suffering a 4-1 defeat at the Camp Nou earlier in the campaign.
More than a game #TeamALS pic.twitter.com/qmSQGHytRu
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) August 23, 2022
Indeed, a lot has changed since that period but the quality in both sides still remain for a real spectacle to be fashioned in the mid-week affair. Barcelona will go into the game on the back of a two-game unbeaten run in La Liga this season. After firing blanks against Rayo Vallecano in the group opener, the Catalans dusted themselves and put Real Sociedad to the sword by securing an emphatic 4-1 victory over the past weekend.
On the contrary, Man City will be eager to get back to winning ways after hitting a stumbling block against Newcastle United at the St James' Park. Last Sunday, the Citizens fought back and secured a 3-3 draw againts the Magpies - going behind on two separate occasions after scoring the opening goal. Despite the introduction of new faces, the Premier League's defending champions have struggled for consistency. They currently have just one win to show for in three competitiive outings.
In the grand scheme of things, they will hope to make it two successive wins over Barca, with five of their last six outings ending in a win for the latter.
.@PepTeam meets Juan Carlos Unzue ahead of tomorrow's match #ManCity | #TeamALS pic.twitter.com/wa9xQ2UpbS
— Manchester City (@ManCity) August 23, 2022
Form guide
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Barcelona form (all competitions): WDWWDW
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Manchester City form (all competitions): WWLWWD
Predicted starting XI
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Barcelona possible starting lineup: Pena; Garcia, Pique, Alba; Kessie, Gavi; Roberto, Torres, Pjanic, Dembele; Braithwaite
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Manchester City possible starting lineup: Ortega; Gomez, Stones, Dias, Lewis; Palmer, Phillips, Grealish; Foden, Alvarez, Mahrez.
Broadcast information
Match details, result and original broadcast info
This match has ended. Below are the original Live broadcast details for this match.
Live TV coverage and streaming in United States
Live TV coverage and streaming in United States
