Laporta repeats pre-match routine before Barcelona’s Atletico Madrid test

Barcelona president Joan Laporta visited the club’s training centre on Saturday to encourage the squad ahead of Sunday’s important La Liga meeting with Atletico Madrid.

Barcelona will travel to Atletico Madrid’s stadium for the fixture on Sunday evening, with Laporta expected to head to the Spanish capital at the head of the club’s delegation.

However, he used his visit to the training facilities in Sant Joan Despi on Saturday morning to offer his support to the players before the demanding encounter.

Laporta reaffirmed his confidence in the squad despite Barcelona’s two most recent defeats. The Catalan club lost 4-2 to Paris Saint-Germain before suffering a 2-1 defeat by Real Madrid.

The president also held discussions with head coach Hansi Flick and sporting director Deco during his time at the training centre.

Laporta’s appearance before a major match is a familiar feature of his presidency. He has regularly visited the team before significant fixtures, particularly during the previous season, after winning the club’s presidential election on 15 March 2026.

Barcelona’s match against Atletico Madrid is scheduled for 8 November 2026 and carries substantial importance for the club following the recent setbacks.

According to Spanish newspaper Mundo Deportivo, Laporta has not had the opportunity to travel with the Barcelona squad since the club’s trip to Paris.

The matches that followed were all played at Spotify Camp Nou: the 2-1 defeat by Real Madrid, a 6-1 victory over Deportivo Alaves and a 3-0 win against Aston Villa.

His journey to Madrid on Sunday will therefore be his first opportunity since the Paris trip to accompany the Barcelona delegation on an away fixture.

Laporta’s latest visit to the training centre comes as Barcelona prepare for another demanding test against one of their principal domestic rivals. The president’s meeting with Flick and Deco also provided an opportunity to maintain his backing for the coaching staff and players before the team’s next La Liga assignment.