Birmingham City vs Barcelona Preview – prediction, team news, lineups | Pre-Season Friendly
The previous clash between these clubs took place in 1960!
The EFL Championship club, Birmingham City, will be battling it out against the Spanish giants, FC Barcelona, in a club friendly contest ahead of the 2026-27 season. This will be an interesting clash, scheduled for St. Andrew’s @ Knighthead Park.
The Chris Davies-led side have secured consecutive wins in their last two friendly outings. They first took down Huddersfield Town by a scoreline of 3-1. The Blues then outplayed Solihull Moors in what was an easy 3-0 win for them.
Birmingham City FC are going to face a tough challenge out there now. They will go up against the LaLiga winners and the slightest of errors could cost them heavily. Being at home will be a slight advantage for them.
FC Barcelona are coming in after securing a 4-1 victory against CE Europa in their first pre-season game. They won the Spanish top division title and Spanish Super Cup titles last season.
However, they continue to struggle when it comes to the UEFA Champions League. This time around, they will be looking to make a mark.
Hansi Flick’s men will be eager for another win. Against the EFL Championship, they might face some issues because the majority of the top players are not going to be there for Barcelona. It will be interesting to see this clash roll out.
Kick-off:
- Location: Birmingham, England
- Venue: St. Andrew’s Stadium
- Date: Saturday, August 1
- Kick-off Time: 12:15 AM IST (Friday, July 31; 08:45 PM CET/ 06:45 PM GMT/ 02:45 PM ET/ 11:45 AM PT)
- Referee: TBD
- VAR: Not in use
Form:
Birmingham: W-W
Barcelona: W
Players to Watch
Demarai Gray (Birmingham City)
The 30-year-old has now scored in back-to-back friendly games for Birmingham City. He is going to be one of the main men in the final third for the EFL Championship club. Chris Davies will make sure to deploy him on the left flank.
Demarai Gray will be looking to engrave his name on the scoresheet against the Spanish giants.
Karim Adeyemi (FC Barcelona)
Karim Adeyemi has travelled with the squad and is training hard. The 24-year-old can play in the midfield and can be crucial on the right wing. The German footballer is all set to make his debut for FC Barcelona.
It will be interesting to see his impact on the field under Hansi Flick.
Match Facts
- Barcelona will play their second club friendly game ahead of the 2026-27 season.
- Birmingham City are unbeaten in their last seven games, including their last two pre-season performances.
- This will be the sixth-ever encounter between these clubs.
Betting tips & Odds
- FC Barcelona to win @8/11 Unibet
- Karim Adeyemi to score @7/4 Skybet
- Goals over 3.5 @19/20 10bet
Injury and Team News
Birmingham City FC will be ready with all their players fit and ready to be in action.
FIFA World Cup 2026 winners, including Lamine Yamal, Ferran Torres, Joan Garcia, Eric Garcia, Pau Cubarsi, Gavi, Dani Olmo and Pedri, are not going to be in action for FC Barcelona.
Newly signed Anthony Gordon will also miss out as he helped England secure third place at the World Cup. Despite the knee injury, Frenkie de Jong is included. Raphinha is not yet confirmed to be a part of the squad.
Head-to-head
Matches played: 5
Birmingham (wins): 1
Barcelona (wins): 3
Draws: 1
Predicted Lineups
Birmingham predicted XI (4-5-1)
Beadle (GK); Osayi-Samuel, Klarer, Fry, Cochrane; Vicente, Solis, Iwata, Fujimoto, Gray; Stansfield
Barcelona predicted XI (4-3-3)
Szczesny (GK); Fort, Araujo, Martin, Balde; Christensen, Casado, Bernal; Adeyemi, Kluivert, Roony
Prediction:
The LaLiga giants should easily beat the EFL Championship side in this pre-season game.
Match prediction: Birmingham City 1-3 Barcelona
Telecast Details
With a premium subscription, Barça Play and the FC Barcelona official YouTube channel can be used to view the fixture live.
Due to broadcasting restrictions, the fixture will not be available to watch in the United Kingdom.
When and where is Birmingham vs Barcelona pre-season friendly?
This clash takes place at the St. Andrew’s Stadium on August 1.
Where and how to watch Birmingham vs Barcelona pre-season friendly live?
Barça Play and the FC Barcelona official YouTube channel can be used to view the fixture live, but at a cost of a premium subscription.
Where and how to watch Birmingham vs Barcelona pre-season friendly live in UK?
Due to broadcasting restrictions, the fixture will not be available to watch in the United Kingdom.
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Dilpreet is a dedicated football writer with a keen eye for World Football. As a proud Real Madrid fan, we believe his work reflects the same ambition and precision. Since joining Khel Now in 2025, he has crafted stories beyond scores, diving into tactics, culture, and emotion. With a strong background in content writing, he blends clarity with creativity, always aiming to bring the beautiful game closer to readers.