---
title: "Barça omit Pedri and Gavi for Basel pre-season clash"
url: https://projectchintan.com/article/barcelona-pedri-gavi-basel-preseason-0gctc
publisher: Project Chintan
author: Project Chintan Newsroom
section: Sports
published: 2026-08-16T15:30:47.330Z
modified: 2026-08-16T17:30:05.930Z
language: en-IN
---

# Barça omit Pedri and Gavi for Basel pre-season clash

Barcelona will face Basel in the penultimate match of the 2026/27 pre-season. Pedri and Gavi are not included in the traveling squad, while Frenkie de Jong and Roony Bardghji are injured and unavailable.

## Key takeaways

- Pedri is not travelling to Basel due to a predefined pre-season plan.
- Gavi did not travel with the squad for load-management reasons, though trained with teammates.
- Frenkie de Jong and Roony Bardghji are unavailable due to knee issues and a recent setback, respectively.
- Several players with uncertain futures are absent from the Basel trip, alongside the main injury-related setbacks.
- Hansi Flick is emphasising precaution to protect players before the official season begins.

## What Happened

FC Barcelona travels to Switzerland to play FC Basel in the pre-season schedule for the 2026/27 campaign. The club released details of its squad for the match, noting the absence of two Spanish internationals—Pedri and Gavi—from the trip. Pedri is described by Barça as following a specific preparation in the early days of pre-season, and Gavi did not travel due to a load-management approach. The club stated there will be no delay to Pedri's integration with the group, with his return anticipated after his early-season plan. Gavi trained with teammates but did not join the expedition to Basel, as the coach aims to manage his workload carefully.

In addition to the Pedri and Gavi absence, the squad list includes players with unsettled futures and others who are sidelined by injuries or recovery. Players facing uncertain futures in the squad include Marc Casadó, Héctor Fort, Guille, Toni Fernández, Tommy Marqués, Jofre Torrents, and Áron Yaakobishvili. Frenkie de Jong has been dealing with knee-related issues following his return from the World Cup, and Roony Bardghji, who had been close to leaving the squad, has been sidelined for several months after a new setback. The club emphasized that these measures align with standard pre-season practice and that the club wants to protect players from avoidable injuries before the competitive season begins.

## Why It Matters

The decision to limit Pedri and Gavi’s participation reflects a broader strategy of workload management during the critical pre-season phase, aiming to keep key players fit for the start of official competition. The absence of these two players can influence the balance of the squad for the bases of team selection and tactical integration ahead of the season, while other reported absences underscore ongoing considerations about player futures and injury recovery. The club has signaled confidence in their fitness but is prioritizing caution to avoid setbacks before competitive matches commence.

## Background

Barcelona is in the pre-season phase ahead of the 2026/27 campaign, with matches scheduled against various opponents as part of training and acclimatization. Pedri and Gavi are two of the club’s Spanish internationals who participated in the recent world event, but neither was included in the travel list for the Basel fixture. The team coach, Hansi Flick, has stated that avoiding risk is a priority, particularly for players returning from vacations or dealing with recent fitness or load-management considerations. There have also been recent public notes about Frenkie de Jong’s knee issues after the World Cup and Roony Bardghji’s layoff due to a fresh setback.

## Key Facts

- Opponent: FC Basel

- Match: penultimate game of Barça’s 2026/27 pre-season

- Pedri: not part of the traveling squad; described as following a specific early-preseason plan

- Gavi: not traveling due to load management; trained with the group but not on the Basel trip

- Other absences: Marc Casadó, Héctor Fort, Guille, Toni Fernández, Tommy Marqués, Jofre Torrents, Áron Yaakobishvili

- Injuries/returns: Frenkie de Jong returning from World Cup knee issues; Roony Bardghji sidelined for several months after a setback

- Coaching stance: Hansi Flick prioritizes injury prevention and workload management

- Location of Basel match: Sankt Jakob-Park, Basel, Switzerland

## What Happens Next

The club has not outlined explicit next-step dates in the provided material, but the emphasis remains on continuing pre-season preparations with attention to player fitness and load management. Pedri’s return to group training is anticipated after his specific pre-season plan is completed, and further updates on Gavi’s travel status or de Jong’s and Bardghji’s fitness will likely follow as the squad progresses toward the regular-season start.

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Canonical: https://projectchintan.com/article/barcelona-pedri-gavi-basel-preseason-0gctc
Reported from: Multiple Sources