FC Barcelona vs CE Europa prediction 24.07.2026 | Club Friendly

Barcelona enter the new campaign after another highly successful domestic season and remain among the favourites to challenge for every major trophy in 2026/27. Flick's side are only beginning pre-season, with players gradually returning following the FIFA World Cup, meaning several first-team stars may feature only briefly or be rested altogether.

There are a few injury concerns within the squad. Midfielder Frenkie de Jong is expected to miss the opening stages of the season after suffering a knee injury during the World Cup, while Fermín López is also sidelined after undergoing surgery on a fractured metatarsal. Meanwhile, captain Ronald Araújo has returned to training but is still recovering from a muscle injury and is unlikely to be rushed back into full action.

Despite those absences, Barcelona possess enormous attacking depth. Young academy players are also expected to receive valuable minutes alongside established stars, making this an important evaluation match for Flick as he finalises his plans for the upcoming campaign.

Europa enjoyed another encouraging campaign in the Primera Federación and continue establishing themselves as one of Catalonia's strongest lower-division clubs. 

The visitors are unlikely to approach this fixture with excessive caution despite facing elite opposition. Instead, Europa are expected to remain compact without possession while attempting to exploit transitions whenever opportunities arise.

No major injury concerns have been reported ahead of the friendly, allowing the coaching staff to field a near full-strength squad. With this being one of the club's highest-profile pre-season fixtures, Europa are expected to treat the occasion seriously and use it as an opportunity to test themselves against world-class opposition from Catalonia.