European giants Barcelona and Chelsea lock horns in a high-profile Rakuten Cup friendly clash in Saitama, Japan today.
Frank Lampard's Blues are looking to bounce back after a disappointing late defeat to reigning J1 League champions Kawasaki Frontale in Yokohama on Friday, while the Blaugrana are just beginning their pre-season campaign.
Ernesto Valverde has handed Antoine Griezmann his Barcelona debut, though Frenkie de Jong and Neto have to wait. Meanwhile, the contingent of youngsters on the tour - nine of the 26-man squad are from Barca B - will be eager to make an impression.
Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Arthur Melo are all absent after their exertions at the Copa America, but Rafinha did travel after an injury issue.
Christian Pulisic came on as a substitute against Kawasaki Frontale after joining up with his new team-mates following the Gold Cup, and has been handed his first start.
Chelsea will be without N'Golo Kante, who has been sent back to London to undergo further treatment following the recurrence of a knee problem.
The French midfielder initially felt discomfort in his knee ahead of the Europa League Final victory over Arsenal in May, but played in that match before withdrawing from international duty with France and sitting out Chelsea's trip to Ireland.
Kante travelled to Japan with Lampard expressing hope that he would be fit to feature in one of two scheduled matches, yet that has not been possible and he will now return to Cobham in the hope of being ready for Chelsea's Premier League opener against Manchester United on August 12.
Kepa Arrizabalaga and Tammy Abraham are both back in training after missing the defeat to Kawasaki Frontale due to illness.
Starting lineups
Barcelona XI: Ter Stegen, Sergi Roberto, Pique, Umtiti, Alba, Busquets, O.Busquets, Riqui Puig, Collado, Griezmann, Dembele
Chelsea XI: Kepa, Azpilicueta, Christensen, David Luiz, Emerson, Jorginho, Kovacic, Pedro, Mount, Pulisic, Abraham
Chelsea subs: Caballero, Cumming, Alonso, Drinkwater, Tomori, Barkley, Bakayoko, Zouma, Kenedy, Zappacosta, Palmer, Giroud, Batshuayi
Chelsea tour squad
Kepa Arrizabalaga, Willy Caballero, Jamie Cumming, Cesar Azpilicueta, David Luiz, Davide Zappacosta, Kurt Zouma, Marcos Alonso, Andreas Christensen, Emerson Palmieri, Fikayo Tomori, Kenedy, N’Golo Kante, Jorginho, Danny Drinkwater, Tiemoue Bakayoko, Ross Barkley, Mateo Kovacic, Mason Mount, Kasey Palmer, Pedro, Michy Batshuayi, Olivier Giroud, Tammy Abraham, Christian Pulisic
Barcelona tour squad
Marc-Andre ter Stegen, Neto, Inaki Pena, Nelson Semedo, Gerard Pique, Clement Lenglet, Samuel Umtiti, Jordi Alba, Jean-Clair Todibo, Sergi Roberto, Ronald Araujo, Guillem Jaime, Ivan Rakitic, Sergio Busquets, Rafinha, Carles Alena, Frenkie De Jong, Oriol Busquets, Riqui Puig, Monchu, Alex Collado, Antoine Griezmann, Ousmane Dembele, Malcom, Carles Perez, Hiroki Abe
