Barça Juvenil A add reinforcements ahead of Galatasaray trip

Barça Juvenil A will have several reinforcements, but no Ebrima Tunkara, for the second matchday of the Youth League. After opening their campaign with a 1-2 defeat by Feyenoord, Pol Planas’s side travel to Galatasaray on Tuesday. Kick-off is scheduled for 14:00, with no television coverage. The expanded squad was confirmed on Monday.

Goalkeeper Max Bonfill, Pedro Rodríguez and Shane Kluivert join the group after coming down from the reserve side. Pedro Rodríguez extended his contract on Friday until 2030. He played in the defeat to Feyenoord, but Juliano Belletti rested him on Saturday against SD Logroñés in Segunda RFEF. Òscar Gistau, who also started the European opener, was rested as well.

Joni Hernández’s inclusion is another notable feature of the squad. Tunkara, aged 16, will not travel. He returned on Saturday after six weeks out and provided the assist for the winning goal in Barça Atlètic’s 1-0 victory against Juan Ybarra. The club wants to protect him so he can be one of the key players in the push for promotion to Primera RFEF.

Galatasaray, coached by Alparslan Erdem, drew 2-2 with Sporting in Lisbon on the opening matchday. The top six in the league phase will reach the play-offs, where they will face teams finishing between 17th and 22nd. Barça will then host Aston Villa on 3 November, travel to Azerbaijan to play Sabah on 25 November, and finish against Manchester City at Johan Cruyff on 8 December.