Barcelona’s international break brought a quiet Thursday for the first-team contingent, with João Cancelo and Karim Adeyemi both completing their national-team assignments without the physical concerns the club had been watching for.
The news from the club
Cancelo featured in Portugal’s narrow 1-0 victory over Wales and was taken off in the 90th minute. The full-back played on the right side of the defence, rather than in the role Barcelona supporters have more often seen him occupy.
Adeyemi was involved for almost 80 minutes as Germany drew 1-1 with the Netherlands, coached by Xavi. Like Cancelo, he was used on the right flank, an area of Barcelona’s attack normally associated with Lamine Yamal. Neither player produced a headline-making display, but both came through the evening uninjured.
At under-21 level, young winger Jesse Bisiwu made a brief appearance for Belgium against Belarus. He entered in the 85th minute of the 1-1 match and had limited time, although he showed glimpses of his ability.
Friday’s international calendar
Barcelona’s players remain spread across several international camps on Friday, with senior friendlies, Nations League football and youth qualifying fixtures all on the agenda.
- Raphinha’s Brazil face Australia in a friendly at 12.00.
- Jules Koundé’s France meet Turkey in the Nations League at 20.45.
- Hamza Abdelkarim’s Egypt play Angola at 21.00 in qualifying for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations.
- Marc Bernal and Xavi Espart are set to lead Spain Under-21s against Finland in European Under-21 Championship qualifying.
