After FC Barcelona’s stunning triple in the 2008/09 season, the players have had some time off to recuperate before starting a series of summer fixtures. Barcelona won the Copa del Rey – the Spanish King’s Cup – followed by the La Liga title and then gloriously outplayed Manchester United to take the Champions League trophy as well.

Before the new Spanish League starts, the team is off first to England, where they play Spurs and Al-Ahly (from Cairo in Egypt) at Wembley for the Wembley Cup on the 24th and 26th July respectively. After Wembley, Barça jet off to the United States, where they have three matches lined up over 9 days.

The first of the US matches is against David Beckham’s US team, LA Galaxy on 1st August. Barcelona then head for the Qwest Field in Seattle to play the Seattle Sounders; and then finally Chivas at Monster Park, San Francisco.

Following the pre-season friendlies, Barcelona then face Athletic de Bilbao in the Spanish Supercup on the 16th and 19th of August; the second leg is at home. And on the 19th they will play in the Gamper Trophy, an annual invitation competition that has seen some of the best teams in Europe and South America visit the Nou Camp for one spectacular night, and an early chance to see the new Barça lineup – whatever that turns out to be.

And finally, Barcelona play Shakhtar Donetsk in the European Super Cup. The cup is played between the Champions League and Europa League winners and takes place on August 29th in Monaco.