July 23, (THEWILL) – Barcelona’s preseason match against Juventus, which was set to take place at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California, on Saturday, was abruptly cancelled after a significant portion of the Barcelona squad fell sick with viral gastroenteritis.
Gastroenteritis is an intestinal infection marked by diarrhoea, cramps, nausea, vomiting and fever. Stomach flu is typically spread by contact with an infected person or through contaminated food or water. The club issued a statement only hours before the scheduled kick-off, expressing their regret over the unforeseen circumstances.
The news comes as a major setback for Xavi Hernandez’s team, who had been gearing up for an exciting preseason, featuring matches against top-tier opponents such as Arsenal, Real Madrid, and AC Milan. In light of the viral gastroenteritis outbreak within the Barcelona squad, the club took immediate action to safeguard the players’ health and well-being, leading to the cancellation of the match against Juventus. The sudden turn of events disappointed thousands of eager fans who were looking forward to witnessing their favorite stars in action.
However, the club remains focused on resolving the situation swiftly, implementing necessary measures to prevent further spread, and ensuring the affected players receive appropriate medical attention and care. The forthcoming matches against Arsenal, Real Madrid, and AC Milan are still scheduled to proceed as planned, and the club is determined to put up a formidable display as they gear up for the upcoming season.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
