Barça will test their strength against Fiorentina without Messi and Neymar
Barça will head to Florence to close out their participation in the International Champions Cup today, against Fiorentina in Stadio Artemio Franchi. The local public would be excited to watch Lionel Messi: although the Argentine hasn't travelled with the squad after only returning to training four days ago.
Luis Enrique would prefer to have him fresh for the first big test of the summer, the European Super Cup against Sevilla in Tbilisi (Georgia) on the 11th of August, and hasn't included him on the squad list for the Blaugrana's final friendly of the summer - with the exception of the Joan Gamper trophy against Roma on Wednesday.
Neymar is in the same situation as the Argentine star, having recently joined back up with the squad, and is being saved for the European Super Cup. Messi and Neymar will have their first minutes in the Gamper, in front of their home fans, who will get to see their players for the first time since the treble win. Javier Mascherano and Dani Alves, who also took part in the Copa America with Argentina and Brazil respectively, won't play tonight in Florence. The only player who is yet to return is Claudio Bravo, who won the tournament with Chile.
All of the offensive responsbility will once again rest on the shoulders of Luis Suarez, who has started his first full season with the Blaugrana, due to the ban of last campaign which prevented him from playing during the opening months. He is performing at a high level and is able to offer the same great performance that he did last season.
He should be partnered in attack by Munir and Pedro, in what could be one of the last times that the latter wears a Barça shirt, ahead of closing his departure to Manchester United.
After a win, a draw and a defeat during pre-season, Luis Enrique's side will end their participation in the International Champions Cup tonight against Europa League opposition, who are hoping to return themselves to the elite of Italian football.
Fiorentina are managed by Portuguese coach Paulo Sousa (who saw over nine games with Espanyol in 2002), after loaning Mario Gomez to Besiktas and signing Atletico Madrid central midfielder Mario Suarez.
