FCBARCELONA.CAT

24.06.2008 16:25

The pre-season in kilometres

Sandra Sarmiento

FC Barcelona will play 5 games in three countries: Scotland, Italy and the United States, making a total of 19,000 kilometres to be covered before playing the Champions League qualifier.

Pep Guardiola wants to get the team into peak condition in as short a period as possible, because he has to be ready in time for the Champions League qualifier. The first game is on either August 12 or 13, but first they have five friendly matches to play.

July 21 to 26: Saint Andrews

Barcelona are going back to Scotland for the second season in a row, leaving on Monday 21 for a 1700 km trip to Saint Andrews. Pep Guardiola’s side have two games against Hibernian and Dundee United, who they already played last season. They come back home on July 26, another 1700 km.

Barcelona to Florence:787 kilometres

The Artemio Franchi is the venue for game three, where Barça meet Fiorentina on July 30, a side they last met in the 99/00 Champions league. One of the star attractions in the home sign is new signing from AC Milan, striker Alberto Gilardino.

Italy to Chicago: 7530 kilometres

After playing Fiorentina, Barça are off to the States and on the last day of July they start the FCB US Tour 2008. The first stop will be the ‘windy’ city of Chicago. On August 3 they will be up against Mexican outfit CD Guadalajara on the Soldier Field, home of the Chicago Bears in the NFL and Major League Soccer team Chicago Fire.

Chicago-New York: 1145 kilometres

The Red Bulls are Barça’s final opponents before they begin their Champions League campaign. That is on August 6 at the Giants Stadium in New York, and once the game over, the players will be flying straight back to Catalonia.

New York-Barcelona: 6162 kilometres

Once back at base, they will have little more than week to prepare for their Champions League qualifying match against an opponent to be decided on August 1. They will have covered no less than 19,022 kilometres in 18 days.