Barça cancel final Birmingham friendly against Preston | OneFootball

Barça will return to Barcelona on Monday without playing their second Birmingham friendly after the Preston North End match was cancelled at the English club’s request.

According to El Periódico Mediterráneo, Preston cited numerous absences and said they would otherwise field mostly under-21s. Their priority is next Saturday’s Cup tie with Huddersfield.

Given the reduced value of the exercise, Barça chose to forgo it. The game had been set for 15:00 at St. George's Park, behind closed doors, as was the opener against Europa in Sant Joan Despí.

Instead, the squad will hold a conventional training session, which will bring forward their journey home.

Barcelona’s next outing is a triangular on the eighth of August against Udinese and Nottingham Forest, two 45-minute games in Italy. The Joan Gamper on the nineteenth against Al Ahly will complete pre-season before the league opener on the 23rd in Elche.

Source: El Periódico Mediterráneo