Gamper memories
On 7 August at the Spotify Camp Nou, the 57th edition of the Joan Gamper Trophy game will take place, the fixture that also sees Barça's present their squad to the fans for the coming season.
The opponents for the traditional summer curtain raiser at home will be Mexican side Pumas UNAM, the second side from the Central American country to take part int the fixture.
The first Mexican team to figure in the Joan Gamper Trophy was Club León back in 2014. The game was Luis Enrique's first match in charge as coach and Club León boasted the presence in their team of none other than Rafa Márquez, the former Barça player who has just returned to the Club to take over as Barça Atlètic manager. Messi, Neymar with two, Munir with two and Sandro were the goalscorers that day for a comfortable 6-0 win for the blaugranes.
In the 56 previous editions of the tournament, Barça have been victorious in 44 and this season Xavi's team have the chance to make it 10 victories in a row in the fixture, equalling the record set between 1995 and 2004.
Barça's most recent defeat in the fixture came back in 2021 in a game against Italian club Sampdoria to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Barça's win over the Serie A side in the 1992 European Cup final at Wembley. A early goal from Roberto Soriano gave the Genoa club the victory.
Since then Barça have been all conquering in the fixture gaining revenge over Sampdoria as well beating the likes of Santos, Club León, Boca Juniors, Arsenal, Elche and Juventus in the summer season opener.
The Gamper game is always a festive occasion and is often a chance to catch up with old friends. As well as the already mentioned return of Rafa Márquez in 2014 with Club León, the 2010 game saw Ronaldinho return to Camp Nou with AC Milan in a contest that saw Barça take the trophy on penalties.
The game against Brazilian side Chapecoense came after the South American club had lost a large part of their squad in a tragic plane crash. The Gamper match in 2017 was an emotional affair with three survivors from the squad, Jakson Ragnar Follmann, Neto and Alan Ruschel, all present for a moving pre-match tribute.
The current one-off format of the game dates back to 1996 as previously it had been a four team tournament. Only Juventus in 2005, Manchester City in 2009 and Sampdoria in 2012 have been able to get the better of Barça since then. Against Pumas UNAM, the blaugranes have the chance to start their 2022/23 season at Spotify Camp Nou with a victory to claim their 45th Joan Gamper Trophy.