FC Barcelona will face Espanyol in the Super Cup of Catalunya, which will be played on Tuesday, July 31st at 21:45 at the Olympic Stadium of Montjuïc. Before, at 19:45 and at the same venue, the final of the Copa Catalunya will take place between Nàstic de Tarragona and Manlleu.

A new format

The region’s two biggest teams will now face off in the Catalunya Super Cup, rather than the Copa Catalunya, with a single game determining the champion. This is the first year for this new match format, and the Catalan Football Federation (Federació Catalana de Futbol) explains, “we’re establishing this new format of Cup and Super Cup with the basic aim of providing these most well known Catalan competitions with the prestige and recognition they deserve. This is the format we have planned for this edition and for the future, always striving so that Catalan football is benefited.”

Barça begins its preseason training on July 16, and already has a number of games lined up, including friendlies against Hamburg (July 24), a Moroccan select XI in Tangiers (July 28), Paris Saint-Germain (August 4), and the Gamper Trophy against Sampdoria (August 20). Additionally, two other friendlies are planned for August 8 and 11.

Sources: fcbarcelona.cat, Mundo Deportivo; Image: fcbarcelona.cat