Messi and Neymar are back in town for Trofeo Joan Gamper against Roma!

With the defence a shambles, the squad still with members looking to leave and with the South Americans having only just returned.

This is how Barcelona go into the final stage of their pre-season. The traditional Joan Gamper game, their fifth friendly of the pre-season, arrives when the 'Azulgranas' should be putting the finishing touches to their game but are unfortunately far from being ready for the challenges of the season ahead.

With just a week to go until the European Super Cup, Roma's visit to the Camp Nou will be the first match of the pre-season for five players without whom last season's treble would have been impossible.

Leo Messi and Neymar, the team's top goalscorers and with the aim of continuing to be so, will be teaming up with the third man in Barça's attacking trio, Luis Suárez, who, thanks to not taking part in the Copa América has enjoyed a full pre-season with his club. The Roma game will also be the pre-season's first for Dani Alves, Mascherano and Bravo, three veterans who will be charged with repairing the leaks in the back row, without doubt the most worrying aspect of Barcelona's game for Luis Enrique.

"We won't be seeing the same team as the one for the Super Cup. Now I want to share out the minutes and see what shape the players are in", explained the Barça manager, who will no doubt be wanting to rest a fair few legs with the game against Sevilla in mind. While for the Barça fans it'll be a chance to see their idols after the summer break, for Luis Enrique it will be a battery of tests for his players with the season just around the corner.

Thanks to the Copa América and their long-distance trekking, it is clear that for the 'Azulgranas' this pre-season is far too short. As is often the case, however, 'Lucho' couldn't disagree more: "The best thing about the pre-season is that it's finishing," he assures, perhaps in the hope that when the going gets tough, the tough get going...