Bengaluru FC to take on Barcelona B, Villarreal B in pre-season friendlies

As part of a fortnight-long pre-season camp, Bengaluru FC will play matches against the reserve sides of Spanish powerhouses FC Barcelona and Villarreal.

Published : Jul 27, 2018 17:28 IST

Bengaluru FC will return back to Bengaluru on August 15 ahead of its first leg clash against Altyn Asyr on August 22 at the Kanteerava Stadium followed by the return leg on August 29 in Turkmenistan.
Bengaluru FC will return back to Bengaluru on August 15 ahead of its first leg clash against Altyn Asyr on August 22 at the Kanteerava Stadium followed by the return leg on August 29 in Turkmenistan.
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Bengaluru FC will return back to Bengaluru on August 15 ahead of its first leg clash against Altyn Asyr on August 22 at the Kanteerava Stadium followed by the return leg on August 29 in Turkmenistan.

In a bid to prepare for its upcoming AFC Cup Inter-Zone semifinal clash against Turkmenistan’s Altyn Asyr FKA and the upcoming fifth edition of the Indian Super League, Bengaluru FC has charted out a a fortnight-long pre-season camp that includes games against the reserve sides of Spanish powerhouses FC Barcelona and Villarreal, the club announced on Friday.

Carles Cuadrat’s men will play a series of friendly games in the Iberian Peninsula, which include clashes against 2015 AFC Champions League runners-up Shabab Al Ahli Dubai FC and Spanish Segunda B side, Atletico Saguntino.

READ: Chhetri to stay with Bengaluru FC until 2021

The Blues will take on reserve sides of La Liga giants Villarreal CF and FC Barcelona, with the game against the Catalans to be played at the 15,000-plus seater Mini Estadi in Barcelona.

“We are really looking forward to what promises to be a very valuable pre-season tour in Spain.  What’s key is the quality of opposition that we will be coming up against. Barcelona B and Villarreal B are massive clubs who work very well with their youth. It’s where players like Xavi, Iniesta and Santi Cazorla have come through. Equally tough will be our game against Shabab Al Ahli who were runners-up to Guangzhou Evergrande in the 2015 AFC Champions League final,” said Cuadrat on the prospect of facing quality opponents ahead of the big game in the AFC Cup.

Interestingly, it will be the first time ex-Barca B playmaker Dimas Delgado faces his former side since the 3-1 loss in January 2015 while playing for Recreativo De Huelva in the Segunda Division. Back in 2006-07, it was Dimas who skippered then Pep Guardiola-coached side in the same division. In fact, it will be a homecoming of sorts for Carles Cuadrat who was part of the launch ceremony of the stadium, thirty six years ago.

“I am also very excited that we will be playing a game at the Mini Estadi (Barcelona B) because I was part of programme to inaugurate the stadium in 1982 and it was my home turf for the next six years. I have a lot of fond memories from my time there and it’s nice to be able to return in a different capacity,” added Cuadrat.

The squad will return back to Bengaluru on August 15 ahead of its first leg clash against Altyn Asyr on August 22 at the Kanteerava Stadium followed by the return leg on August 29 in Turkmenistan.

 

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