Hamza Scores Against His Former Club, Gordon Misses a Penalty. Barça Win the Gamper 2-1

Barcelona closed pre-season with a 2-1 win over Al Ahly in the 61st Joan Gamper Trophy. In front of 54,224 at Spotify Camp Nou, 18-year-old Hamza Abdelkarim scored against the club he left. Raphinha converted a penalty he had won himself. Anthony Gordon, on his first night at this ground, won a late spot-kick and missed it.

The squad was presented first. The loudest reception went to Rodri, who did not play. João Cancelo waited in the tunnel in a Barcelona shirt and was not introduced, because the paperwork on his free move from Al-Hilal is not finished. Then the match started.

Hansi Flick left his new wingers on the bench. Joan García; Eric García, Jules Koundé, Gerard Martín, Alejandro Balde; Marc Bernal, Xavi Espart; Lamine Yamal, Fermín López, Raphinha and Hamza. Koundé was used at centre-back. The only recognised No. 9 in the squad was an Egyptian from Barça Atlètic.

The opener came from Raphinha’s through ball, Balde’s run and Hamza’s first-time finish at the near post. Minute 30. His fourth goal of pre-season. His first at Camp Nou. Against Al Ahly. He did not celebrate.

In June, Barcelona triggered a €1.5 million option to buy him from Cairo and signed him through 2029. Robert Lewandowski and Ferran Torres have already gone. Gordon and Karim Adeyemi are meant to cover what Ferran used to do. Nobody on Wednesday pretended they had replaced Lewandowski.

Just before half-time, Raphinha drew a foul from Hady Reyad and tucked the penalty in off the left post. 2-0. He played with the captain’s armband because Flick has postponed the vote until the squad is complete. After the game he was named MVP and collected the Estrella Damm award.

Flick made six changes at the break. Gordon, Dani Olmo and several academy players came on. Al Ahly needed one counter. Koundé slipped, Zizo finished, 2-1 in the 51st minute.

Gordon’s first appearance at the new Camp Nou went the hard way. A goal was ruled out for offside. A shot was saved. In the 90th minute he won a penalty and put it at Mohamed El Shenawy.

Before kick-off, Flick and Raphinha had talked about fighting for every trophy, including the Champions League Barcelona last won in 2015. What they left with was 2-1 and the Gamper staying at home. The next test is already league football: Barcelona play Elche on Sunday.