Barcelona to host Chapecoense friendly

Barcelona have announced that they plan to play a friendly with Brazilian club Chapecoense on August 7.

In November, 71 people died when a plane carrying the Chapecoense squad to the final of the Copa Sudamericana crashed en route, with only three of their players surviving.

They have since signed 25 new players, with nine being promoted from the youth team, and they will now travel to Camp Nou to face the Catalan giants in a match ahead of the new season.

The game will represent the 52nd edition of the Joan Gamper Trophy, and Barca say that they hope to help Chapecoense "rebuild institutionally and recover the competitive level it had before the tragedy".

The fixture will mark Barcelona's final friendly encounter before they meet Real Madrid in a two-legged tie for the Spanish Super Cup.