Barcelona began the triangular tournament in Udine with a narrow victory as Raphinha scored a stoppage-time penalty to secure a 1-0 win over Nottingham Forest on Saturday evening.
The Brazilian forward converted from the spot in added time to settle a game in which Barcelona gradually improved after being under pressure for much of the opening 45 minutes. Despite a difficult performance at times, the Spanish side found a way to claim victory in their first match of the competition.
Barcelona’s display was assessed by Marca, which highlighted the team’s progress as the match developed. Nottingham Forest were the stronger side early on, but Barcelona became more effective as the first half progressed and eventually produced the decisive moment late in the contest.
The result came during a period when Hans-Dieter Flick’s squad is still building up its fitness and rhythm. The German manager used a team combining senior first-team players with members of Barcelona’s academy, underlining the developmental nature of the fixture and the work still required before the side reaches its best level of preparation.
One of the main talking points was the continued use of Egyptian striker Hamza Abdelkarim as Barcelona’s central forward. The youngster had also started in that position against Europe and Birmingham, and was again given the opportunity to lead the attack against Nottingham Forest.
The match also marked the first appearances of the pre-season campaign for Fermin Lopez and Raphinha. Their involvement added further experience to a starting line-up that included a blend of established players and academy prospects.
Karim Adeyemi kept his place in the starting XI, while 17-year-olds Espart and Bisker were selected as the two full-backs. Farinas operated in midfield as Flick continued to assess different combinations within his squad.
Barcelona ultimately had to wait until the final stages to make their pressure count. Raphinha’s penalty provided the only goal of the match and gave his side a winning start in Udine, although the performance also showed that Flick’s team still has considerable work ahead during the preparation period.
The 1-0 scoreline reflected a closely contested encounter rather than a dominant Barcelona display. Nottingham Forest controlled the early stages, but Barcelona’s gradual improvement allowed them to remain in contention before the late penalty decided the outcome.
For Abdelkarim, the match represented another opportunity to establish himself in the striker’s role, while Raphinha’s return to action ended with the decisive contribution. Barcelona will now continue their pre-season work after opening the triangular tournament with victory.
