Barcelona 2–1 Al Ahly: Barça Win the 2026 Joan Gamper Trophy
Barcelona defeated Al Ahly 2–1 in the 2026 Joan Gamper Trophy, with Hamza Abdelkarim and Raphinha scoring as Barça completed their pre-season campaign with a win.
🏆 Barcelona 2–1 Al Ahly: A Winning Finish to Pre-Season
FC Barcelona concluded their 2026/27 pre-season with a narrow but deserved 2–1 victory over Al Ahly at the Spotify Camp Nou, securing the Joan Gamper Trophy.
The match, played on Wednesday, August 19, provided Hansi Flick with one final opportunity to assess his squad before the start of competitive football.
Barcelona made the most of their first-half superiority, scoring twice before the break through Hamza Abdelkarim and Raphinha. Al Ahly responded early in the second half through Ahmed Sayed Zizo, setting up a tense finish.
Despite late pressure from the Egyptian champions, Barcelona held on to claim a 2–1 victory and lift the Gamper Trophy in front of their home supporters.
⚽ Match Overview
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| 🏆 Competition | Joan Gamper Trophy / Club Friendly |
| 📅 Date | 19 August 2026 |
| 🏟️ Stadium | Spotify Camp Nou, Barcelona |
| 🇪🇸 Barcelona | 2 |
| 🇪🇬 Al Ahly | 1 |
| ⏱️ Half-time | Barcelona 2–0 Al Ahly |
| 🏆 Winner | Barcelona |
The victory completed Barcelona's pre-season programme on a positive note. The club's official results list the Al Ahly match as a 2–1 Barcelona victory, following the earlier 5–2 win over FC Basel.
🔥 Barcelona Dominate the First Half
Barcelona started the match with confidence, controlling possession and moving the ball quickly around the Al Ahly defensive block.
The hosts were particularly dangerous when attacking through the wide areas, while their midfielders constantly looked to create passing options between the lines.
The pressure eventually produced the opening goal.
⚽ Hamza Abdelkarim Breaks the Deadlock
Barcelona's young forward Hamza Abdelkarim continued his impressive pre-season by finding the net against his former club.
The goal was another important moment in what has been an encouraging preparation period for the young attacker.
Abdelkarim had already scored twice against Birmingham City earlier in pre-season, and his contribution against Al Ahly further strengthened his case for first-team opportunities.
Barcelona 1–0 Al Ahly.
🎯 Raphinha Doubles Barcelona's Lead
Barcelona continued to push forward and eventually earned a penalty.
Raphinha stepped up and converted from the spot, giving Barcelona a two-goal advantage before half-time.
The Brazilian was one of the standout players of the evening and was subsequently named the Star Player of the 2026 Gamper.
According to Barcelona's official report, Raphinha played a direct role in both of Barça's goals.
Half-Time Score
🔵🔴 Barcelona 2–0 Al Ahly 🔴
At that stage, everything appeared to be going according to Flick's plan.
Barcelona had control.
They had two goals.
And Al Ahly had struggled to create consistent danger.
But the second half brought a completely different game.
⚡ Zizo Gives Al Ahly Hope
Al Ahly came out of the dressing room with considerably more attacking intent.
Only a few minutes after the restart, Ahmed Sayed Zizo took advantage of space behind the Barcelona defence and pulled one goal back.
The Egyptian attacker finished calmly to make it:
Barcelona 2–1 Al Ahly.
The goal transformed the atmosphere.
Suddenly, Al Ahly believed they could complete the comeback.
Barcelona, meanwhile, had to become more disciplined and protect their advantage.
🧤 Barcelona Survive a Late Test
The final stages became increasingly tense.
Al Ahly continued searching for an equaliser, while Barcelona attempted to exploit spaces on the counterattack.
There were opportunities at both ends.
Al Ahly goalkeeper Mohamed El-Shenawy produced important saves, including a late intervention that prevented Barcelona from adding a third goal.
Barcelona also had a late penalty opportunity, but Anthony Gordon was unable to convert, giving Al Ahly one final reason to believe they could rescue the result.
The comeback never arrived.
The final whistle confirmed:
Barcelona 2–1 Al Ahly
🧠 Tactical Analysis
🔵🔴 Barcelona
Barcelona's first-half performance was the strongest part of their game.
Flick's team moved the ball quickly, created numerical advantages in attacking areas and applied pressure when possession was lost.
The midfield also provided a strong platform for Barcelona's attacking players.
However, the second half exposed some defensive vulnerabilities.
After Al Ahly reduced the deficit, Barcelona struggled to maintain the same rhythm and were forced to defend their lead rather than control the match.
Tactical Rating: ⭐ 8.7/10
Excellent first half, but the second-half drop in intensity provides Flick with something to analyse.
🔴 Al Ahly
Al Ahly deserve credit for their response.
After trailing 2–0 at half-time, the Egyptian side came back with greater intensity and created genuine problems for Barcelona.
Zizo's goal gave them momentum, while their defensive organisation improved considerably after the interval.
Tactical Rating: ⭐ 8.3/10
A difficult first half followed by a much stronger second-half performance.
⭐ Player of the Match: Raphinha
Raphinha was arguably Barcelona's most influential player.
The Brazilian contributed directly to both goals and showed why he remains such an important component of Flick's attacking system.
His penalty was confidently taken, while his overall movement caused problems for Al Ahly throughout the first half.
Barcelona subsequently named him the Star Player of the 2026 Gamper, confirming his importance to the victory.
⭐ Rating: 9.2/10
🌟 Hamza Abdelkarim Continues to Impress
One of the biggest stories from Barcelona's pre-season has been the emergence of Hamza Abdelkarim.
The young forward has taken advantage of his opportunities and continued to demonstrate his ability to contribute at senior level.
His goal against Al Ahly was particularly significant because it came in the club's final pre-season fixture.
After scoring twice against Birmingham City in his first senior outing, Abdelkarim has given Flick another attacking option heading into the new season.
🆕 A Positive End to Barcelona's Pre-Season
The victory over Al Ahly completed a varied pre-season for Barcelona.
The Catalans began with a 2–2 draw against Birmingham City before losing the subsequent penalty shootout. They then played a unique double-header involving Nottingham Forest and Udinese before defeating Basel 5–2.
The final victory over Al Ahly therefore gives Flick a positive result before competitive football begins.
More importantly, the manager has been able to evaluate several young players while integrating new additions into the squad.
🏁 Final Thoughts
Barcelona 2–1 Al Ahly was an entertaining conclusion to the Catalan club's 2026/27 pre-season.
Barcelona dominated the opening 45 minutes and established a 2–0 lead through Hamza Abdelkarim and Raphinha.
Al Ahly responded brilliantly after the interval, with Zizo pulling one back and making the final stages extremely competitive.
But Barcelona managed to hold on.
For Flick, the result provides momentum.
For Raphinha, it was an excellent personal performance.
For Abdelkarim, it was another opportunity to demonstrate that he can play a role in the first-team squad.
And for Barcelona supporters, the Joan Gamper Trophy remains at home.
The pre-season is over.
Now the real challenge begins.
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