Barcelona manager Hansi Flick has named Hamza Abdelkarim in the starting line-up to face his former club Al Ahly in the Joan Gamper Trophy at Camp Nou on Wednesday evening.
The young Egyptian forward will lead the Barcelona attack against Al Ahly for the first time since moving to the Catalan club during the most recent winter transfer window.
Abdelkarim has been selected as the central striker, with Lamine Yamal and captain Raphinha operating alongside him in the front three. The fixture will also mark Yamal’s first start in a pre-season match ahead of the 2026-27 campaign.
Flick has not included any of Barcelona’s recent arrivals in the starting XI. Anthony Gordon, Karim Adeyemi and Jesse Bisiou are all absent from the side named to face Al Ahly, while Rodri is also not involved after completing his move to the club on Tuesday.
The match provides Barcelona with their final preparation before the beginning of their La Liga campaign. They are due to open their season against Elche on Sunday, in the second round of the competition, after their opening-day fixture against Athletic Club was postponed.
Al Ahly will also begin their domestic campaign on Sunday, when they face Eastern Company ENPPI in the opening round of the Egyptian Premier League.
Barcelona’s starting line-up is:
Goalkeeper: Juan Garcia.
Defenders: Alejandro Balde, Gerard Martin, Eric Garcia and Jules Kounde.
Midfielders: Xavi Espart, Marc Bernal and Fermin Lopez.
Forwards: Lamine Yamal, Raphinha and Hamza Abdelkarim.
Abdelkarim’s selection puts the spotlight on the Egyptian striker as he prepares to face Al Ahly, the club he represented before joining Barcelona. His inclusion is the main feature of Flick’s team for the traditional Joan Gamper fixture, while the absence of the club’s new signings means the manager has relied on a side made up of established players and familiar options.
The meeting at Camp Nou is being played as a friendly, with both clubs using the occasion as an opportunity to complete their preparations for the season ahead. For Barcelona, attention will soon turn to their league opener against Elche, while Al Ahly will travel into their own domestic schedule with the match against Eastern Company ENPPI.
Flick’s selection also gives Yamal a significant role in Barcelona’s final pre-season test. The forward has been named in the starting line-up for the first time during preparations for the 2026-27 season, and will share attacking duties with Raphinha and Abdelkarim against the Egyptian champions.
