Blues line-up friendly against Barcelona

Birmingham lost only three league games at home last season [Shutterstock] Birmingham City's preparations for the new Championship season will include a prestigious friendly at home to Spanish champions Barcelona. The five-time European champions will be at St Andrew's on Friday, 31 July to face Chris Davies's team. The two sides have previously met on five occasions, all in the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup - now the Europa League - including the 1960 final which Barcelona won 4-1 on aggregate. "Barcelona are a powerhouse of world football and have chosen to kick-off their pre-season campaign with us," said Birmingham's chief executive Jeremy Dale. "People are seeing that there is an exciting story unfolding here. Hosting one of the most iconic teams in the world, with such a rich history and global following, is a fantastic opportunity as we build towards the new season." The new Championship season starts on the weekend of 14-16 August, with the fixtures published on Thursday, 25 June.