Unusual timing for a promotional trip: FC Barcelona play a friendly match in Dallas just before Christmas – just one day after the league match against Almeria
Not only Catalonia raised eyebrows on Friday when Barcelona announced a test match shortly before Christmas: The third-placed team in La Liga will fly to the USA the day after their last league match of the calendar year against Almeria on December 20 to take on Club America in Dallas on December 21.
The match had been planned for some time, but was to be played during a week without matches. The sporting management has now ruled out this option so as not to throw the team off its sporting rhythm. Instead, Barcelona will now travel to the United States the day after matchday 18.
Sources close to the club, whose anonymity should be protected, speak of income of five million euros for the match. Money that will be gladly taken in the Catalans’ tight coffers
Memories of the “Texas-Clasico “
However, some fans seem worried about the trip to Texas. No wonder: When Barcelona started their US tour in the summer, the match against Juventus Turin in Santa Clara scheduled for July 23 was canceled because, according to the club, “a significant part of the Blaugrana team had caught viral gastroenteritis.”
However, the mental link with the “Texas-Clasico” is certainly a positive one, as Barcelona put arch-rivals Real Madrid in their place 3-0 on July 30 – albeit with a large dose of luck. Back then, the game was played at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, now Barça will play at the Cotton Bowl Stadium in Dallas.
Head coach Xavi will be keen to avoid any injuries against the leaders of the Mexican league – CF America are seven points ahead of CF Monterrey. The league action continues in the first few days of January, with challenging fixtures against Las Palmas, Osasuna, Real Betis and Villarreal awaiting in the first month of 2024.
