Barcelona won’t be playing Juventus on Saturday after all.
The Catalan club announced that it was calling off a scheduled friendly against the Serie A power after a virus left too many members of the Barça squad too sick to play.
“FC Barcelona hereby informs that the game against Juventus FC, scheduled for today, July 22 at 7:30 PM at Levi’s Stadium, as part of the Soccer Champions Tour, has been canceled,” read a club statement announcing the news. “A significant part of the blaugrana squad has a viral gastroenteritis.”
ESPN followed the announcement with a report that 14 Barcelona players are suffering from the virus.
“Today when we wake up, the doctor told us the majority of our players [presented] a symptom of gastroenteritis,” club president Joan Laporta said in a video Barça posted on social media. “Unfortunately, it is most of our players… It’s very tough for the supporters, because at the same time we were wishing to see our team play against Juventus.”
❝It’s a tough blow. I hope the players recover soon.❞
FC Barcelona president, @JoanLaportaFCB discusses the cancellation of Saturday’s game against Juventus in Santa Clara pic.twitter.com/KkmDWOawQj
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) July 22, 2023
Laporta added that the club’s preseason schedule doesn’t have room to allow for rescheduling the game. Barcelona still has preseason friendlies against Arsenal, Real Madrid, and AC Milan to play during their U.S. tour before heading back for the Joan Gamper Trophy friendly against Tottenham on August 8, their final preparation match during this preseason.
Barcelona will begin their defense of last year’s La Liga title on August 13, when they host Getafe.
[lawrence-related id=23272,21548,19538]