The New York Red Bulls will host FC Barcelona for a friendly on Saturday, July 30 at Red Bull Arena. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. ET with coverage on Red Bull TV, MSG, and New York Red Bulls Radio in English and Spanish via TuneIn, the New York Red Bulls app and NewYorkRedBulls.com.
Get to know who the Red Bulls will be playing in their upcoming friendly.
Lewandowski added to summer tour roster
The signing of the summer is with Barcelona after joining the club from Bayern Munich on July 19.
Robert Lewandowski, coming off back-to-back titles of The Best FIFA Men’s Player in 2020 and 2021, has made two appearances with the Spanish giants during their preseason.
He played 45 minutes in his debut against Real Madrid in Las Vegas July 23, before playing 62 minutes against Juventus in Dallas on Tuesday. He has yet to score for Barcelona.
More World Cup names
Alongside Poland’s Lewandowski, several players on the Barcelona summer tour roster could see playing time in Qatar at the World Cup later this year.
Players like defending World Cup champion Ousmane Dembélé to German keeper have been regulars for the club over the past few years.
Longtime Spanish national teamers Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba join retired international Gerard Piqué among the elder statesmen who feature for the club.
Emerging Brazilian Raphinha and Danish center back Andreas Christensen joined Barcelona this summer, while Dutch internationals Memphis Depay and Frenkie de Jong are also currently with Barcelona.
The lone American on the squad, Sergino Dest, has been labeled as “a player with great potential” by manager Xavi and is expected to be a factor at right back.
Goal-scoring threats
Lewandowski is expected to be the big threat going forward, but Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was the team’s top scorer across all competitions last year despite joining halfway through the season during the January transfer window.
The former Gabon international, who can slot across the front line, has two goals this preseason in matches against Olot and Inter Miami.
Right winger Raphinha has also notched two goals in his first few matches with the club, while fellow option on the right Dembélé is coming off a two-goal game against Juventus.
Depay was the team’s top scorer in La Liga last season. The forward, who has played in the on the left wing as well as in the center of the pitch, notched 12 goals in 28 league appearances.
Return to New York
The historic club has played in the New York metro area three times since 2006, including a pair of meetings with the Red Bulls.
All three of those games were played at the Meadowlands.
Barcelona’s most recent trip was in July 2017 – earning a 2-1 victory over Juventus in front of 82,104 fans at MetLife Stadium thanks to a brace from Neymar.
More than 38,000 watched Samuel Eto’o score twice in a 6-2 Barcelona win over New York in August 2008, while a then record crowd of 79,002 for an MLS team saw Ronaldinho and Lionel Messi get on the scoresheet in a 4-1 Barcelona win over the Red Bulls in August 2006.
This will be Barcelona’s first trip to Red Bull Arena.
How To Watch RBNY vs. Barça
The New York Red Bulls vs. FC Barcelona friendly will be available nationwide, for free, on Red Bull TV, live from Red Bull Arena. In the New York market, the match will be available on MSG. Kick off is 7 PM ET / 4 PM PT.
