Rakuten, Inc., FC Barcelona and Rakuten TV today announced the launch of Matchday – Inside FC Barcelona, an official FC Barcelona TV documentary series that follows the club through its 2018-2019 season, offering behind-the-scenes insights into what makes Barça “more than a club.”

Matchday – Inside FC Barcelona is a creation of Barça Studios, FC Barcelona’s own production house, in collaboration with Kosmos Studios, Rakuten, Inc. in association with Rakuten H Collective Studio and Producciones del Barrio.

As a main global partner of FC Barcelona since 2017 that is committed to inspiring people through the power of sport, Rakuten is uniquely positioned to present this new documentary to fans around the world.

The series is made up of eight episodes that follow the club and its players through milestones of the 2018-2019 season, casting new light on the culture and philosophy of Barça, one of the world’s most beloved football teams. The series offers viewers a no-holds-barred view of the club and players, following the team as they enjoy the excitement of victory and strive to overcome defeat.

Matchday also follows the players off the pitch, giving insights into their private lives, such as a barbeque at Luis Suárez’s house with Leo Messi and Jordi Alba; Gerard Piqué enjoying his free time together with his family; Marc-André ter Stegen designing his new house; and Ivan Rakitic cooking.

Matchday will delve into the most iconic scenes of select FC Barcelona matches of the past season, narrated by critically acclaimed actor John Malkovich, including milestones such as the “El Clásico” match against rivals Real Madrid, one of the most viewed sporting events in the world. Two episodes show how players prepare for the El Clásico, how they handle the pressure of this important event and their experience of the 90 minutes on the field of play.

The series will also feature contributions from different people who, through personal experiences, have become part of Barça. Examples of these are Rafa, the firefighter who, despite having lost his sight in an explosion, continues to attend Camp Nou when the club plays, and Andrey, a fan from Russia who follows FC Barcelona wherever they go.

Matchday will premiere exclusively on Rakuten TV in Europe in November, to be followed by a Japan premiere and distribution globally by Rakuten through content partners.