As Barcelona prepares for their first match of the 2024/25 season under new manager Hansi Flick, fans are eager to see if the former Bayern Munich coach will be able to turn the team's fortunes around after a disappointing previous campaign. Despite a shaky performance in a pre-season friendly against Monaco, Barca is still favored to defeat Valencia in their upcoming match, with the hosts having a relatively quiet transfer window and a recent history of struggling against the Catalan giants. Will Flick's tactics and summer preparations be enough to secure a win for Barca?
As the 2024/25 LaLiga season kicks off, FC Barcelona faces a crucial match against Valencia CF. Under the new leadership of manager Hansi Flick, Barcelona aims to bounce back from a disappointing previous campaign.
In November 2023, Barcelona announced the appointment of Hansi Flick as their new manager, replacing the outgoing Xavi Hernández. Flick, a former Bayern Munich coach, has a proven track record of success, having led Bayern to seven major titles, including the 2019/20 Champions League.
Barcelona has been relatively quiet in the summer transfer window, with only a handful of notable arrivals. Defender Jules Koundé has joined from Sevilla, while midfielder Franck Kessié has moved from AC Milan. Ousmane Dembélé has also penned a new contract, committing his future to the club.
On the other hand, Valencia has had a mixed pre-season, losing to Real Betis but defeating Arsenal. The club has not won a trophy since 2019 and finished a disappointing 10th in LaLiga last season.
Flick is expected to implement a high-pressing, possession-based style of play at Barcelona. This approach has been successful for him at Bayern Munich, where his teams consistently dominated the Bundesliga.
Barcelona enters the match against Valencia as the heavy favorite. Flick's managerial experience and the quality of Barcelona's squad give them a significant advantage. However, Valencia has the potential to cause an upset, especially if they can exploit Barcelona's weaknesses on the defensive front.
1. When is the Barcelona vs. Valencia match? The match is scheduled for August 20, 2024, at the Camp Nou.
2. Who is Barcelona's manager? Hansi Flick is the current manager of Barcelona.
3. Which players have Barcelona signed in the summer? Barcelona has signed Jules Koundé, Franck Kessié, and renewed Ousmane Dembélé's contract.
4. Who is Valencia's current manager? Gennaro Gattuso is the current manager of Valencia.
5. What is Barcelona's projected starting lineup for the match? Possible starting lineup: Ter Stegen, Koundé, Araujo, García, Balde, Busquets, De Jong, Pedri, Raphinha, Lewandowski, Dembélé.
After a disappointing loss to Tottenham Hotspur, Liverpool are reportedly eyeing Bayern Munich's Joshua Kimmich as a potential replacement for Trent Alexander-Arnold, should the current Reds player depart for Real Madrid. With Kimmich having excelled as a defensive midfielder and even taking on the captain's armband, Liverpool are keeping a close eye on the situation and may make a move in the upcoming January transfer window.
In a recent interview, FC Barcelona star Lamine Yamal expressed his excitement for the Spanish Super Cup final after scoring a crucial goal in the semifinals against Athletic Club. The 17-year-old had just returned from an ankle injury and was instrumental in securing his team's spot in the final. He also shared his happiness in seeing teammates Dani Olmo and Pau Victor being cleared to play and hopes they will join him in the final against either Real Madrid or RCD Mallorca.
In a thrilling semifinal match against Athletic Club, Barcelona secures its place in the Spanish Super Cup finals. A long pass from Raphinha leads to a chance for Athletic to score, but a timely intervention from goalkeeper Simon denies them. Subscribers of Sportstar can catch the highlights of the intense match at the King Abdullah Sports City Stadium in Jeddah.
Despite Barcelona missing key player Dani Olmo, whose playing license was revoked, young talents Gavi and Yamal stepped up to secure a 2-0 victory against Athletic Bilbao in the Spanish Super Cup semifinals. Olmo was temporarily cleared to play, but unfortunately not in time for the game. Barca's opponent in the final will be determined in the match between Real Madrid and Mallorca, with the outcome being held in Saudi Arabia. Barca coach Hansi Flick expressed his joy over the decision to allow Olmo and Pau Victor to play again, and the players were also thrilled to contribute to the win and reach the final.
Following reports of a possible move for Osimhen, it seems Liverpool is also keeping an eye on youth international Jamie Bynoe-Gittens and facing a potential setback in their pursuit of Alphonso Davies. Meanwhile, there are rumors of a possible takeover by Elon Musk. On the field, Liverpool lost their second match of the season to Tottenham Hotspur in a League Cup semi-final, with an injury to Rodrigo Bentancur overshadowing the game. In other transfer news, Loris Karius may finally sign for a new club after leaving Newcastle United, with Schalke reportedly interested in him as a replacement.
Dutch midfielder Frenkie de Jong has raised doubts about his future at Barcelona, revealing that he may not stay at the club for the entirety of his contract. This admission comes as a surprise, given the player's constant assurances of his commitment to the club in the past. However, de Jong's revelation could signal a potential move to another top European club, as speculation surrounding his future intensifies. As he faces fitness and form challenges this season, de Jong's performance against UD Barbastro will be closely watched as he vies for a more prominent role in the team.
Young superstars Gavi and Lamine Yamal put on a show in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia as they scored a goal each to secure a 2-0 victory for Barcelona against Athletic Club in the Spanish Super Cup semifinal. The team was unable to field Spanish playmaker Dani Olmo and Pau Victor due to delayed clearance, but it did not stop the young guns from shining on the field. This win takes Barcelona one step closer to lifting the trophy and adds to their impressive run of form under new manager Xavi Hernandez.
As the transfer window opens, Premier League clubs are already hard at work securing new signings and making major changes. Manchester United is looking to offload players and bring in fresh talent with Ruben Amorim leading the way. Meanwhile, Liverpool is fighting to keep key players as their contracts near expiration. Across the league, teams like Arsenal and Bayern Munich are also looking to bolster their squads for a strong second half of the season. Stay updated with all the latest news and rumors throughout the day.
In a rain-reduced match, New Zealand's strong bowling attack led by Will O'Rourke and Jacob Duffy proved too much for Sri Lanka as they collapsed to 142 all out, losing by 113 runs. Sri Lanka's top order once again failed to produce, with only Kaminu Mendis scoring above 30. Sri Lanka captain Charith Asalanka acknowledged their poor play in the power play as a major factor in their loss. With a 2-0 lead in the series, New Zealand looks poised for a clean sweep in the upcoming third match in Auckland.
The transfer window has been open for eight days, but Manchester City have yet to make any signings. However, according to reports, they are considering a move for Nottingham Forest full-back Ola Aina to bolster their defence. With plenty of time for clubs to make their moves, the January transfer window promises to be an interesting one to follow.