The 18-year-old Spaniard is set to compete on home soil for the first time since he lost to in Madrid last May.
His first tour title came in Umag last year.
Fognini, who has beaten King of Clay Rafael Nadal himself at Barcelona in the past, looked close to his best during his quarterfinal run at Monte Carlo.
A Historic Stage In Barcelona The Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell, Trofeo Conde de Godo, has been staged at the Real Club de Tenis Barcelona-1899, the oldest Spanish tennis club, since 1953.
The tournament takes place at the Real Club de Tenis Barcelona-1899, the oldest tennis club in Spain, on outdoor clay courts.
After finding himself down a break in the second, Nadal would storm back to take a 5-4, 40-15 lead.