Barcelona Secures 2-1 Win Over Al Ahly in Joan Gamper Trophy
Barcelona concluded their preseason with a 2-1 victory against Al Ahly in the Joan Gamper Trophy, held Wednesday at Spotify Camp Nou. Despite an impressive performance, new signing Anthony Gordon missed a penalty on his debut for the club.
Egyptian striker Hamza Abdelkarim, who is just 18 years old, opened the scoring for Barcelona in the first half, marking his fourth goal of the preseason and netting against his former club. Raphinha doubled Barça’s lead shortly before halftime by converting a penalty awarded after he was fouled by Hady Reyad.
Al Ahly made a comeback in the second half when Zizo scored, narrowing the gap. However, the match saw another highlight for Gordon when he won a penalty late in the game, but his attempt was saved by Mohamed El Shenawy.
The match attracted a significant crowd at Camp Nou, where the squad for the upcoming season was presented, including summer signings. New recruit Rodri, who joined Barcelona from Manchester City, received the loudest cheers, though he was not in the lineup for this match.
João Cancelo, who is set to join Barcelona after leaving Al Hilal, was unable to be presented on the pitch as his contract has not been officially finalized. Coach Hansi Flick and Raphinha spoke to the crowd, expressing their ambition to compete for all available trophies this season, particularly the Champions League, which Barça last won in 2015.
Flick has strengthened his squad with additions including Rodri, Gordon, Karim Adeyemi, and Jesse Bisiwu, and is still considering further reinforcements, especially in the striker role. Abdelkarim’s performances are giving Flick plenty to contemplate, particularly after he scored in three preseason matches.
Post-match, Flick praised Abdelkarim’s abilities: “Hamza is a good forward. We can see that with how he attacks crosses. Today I also saw him keep the ball well, which is good. That’s what I want to see from him.”
As Barcelona now shifts focus towards defending their La Liga title, they will begin their campaign with a match against Elche this Sunday.
Special Credits: Image Courtesy of Espn
