George Harris
Dec 22, 2023 - 09:05

Watch Barcelona vs Club America live stream, TV channel, lineups, prediction: USA friendly

Barcelona wraps up 2023 with a friendly against Mexican side Club America, facing pressure to keep La Liga title hopes alive.

Barcelona will be finishing up 2023 with a friendly match against Club America on December 21, just before the La Liga mid-season break. The team, led by Xavi Hernandez, is working hard to keep their league title defense hopes alive in the second half of the campaign after a series of mixed results. They are also facing a busy January schedule, including Copa del Rey and Spanish Supercopa action, alongside four league matches.

The friendly match will take place at the Cotton Bowl Stadium in Dallas, Texas, USA, with a kickoff time of 8:00 p.m. local time. The match will be broadcasted across the world, with details on how to watch in different territories yet to be confirmed.

The decision to play a mid-season friendly on another continent may seem unusual, but it's based on financial reasons, with the club looking to improve its fiscal position after years of mismanagement. Reports suggest that Barcelona will earn an estimated €5m from the game, with a percentage of the fee being donated to a charitable fund set up to aid the recovery effort in Mexico following Hurricane Otis in November.

Xavi has indicated that he will take the strongest possible squad to the USA, despite missing some key players like Pedri, Gavi, Marcos Alonso, and Marc-Andre Ter Stegen due to injury. The match will also provide an opportunity for some of the younger stars to feature.

Club America, who recently clinched the Liga MX title, will be entering the match during their own domestic offseason. They have a majority Mexican core and will be captained by striker Henry Martin, with former Barcelona player Jonathan dos Santos in midfield.

Barcelona will be under pressure coming into this game, with Xavi's team playing catch up to Girona and Real Madrid in the La Liga title race. On the other hand, Club America will be motivated by their recent title win and could pose a challenge for Barcelona in Dallas. This friendly clash promises to be an exciting and competitive match for both teams.