OVIEDO, SPAIN - SEPTEMBER 25: Hansi Flick, Head Coach of FC Barcelona, looks on prior to the LaLiga EA Sports match between Real Oviedo and FC Barcelona at Carlos Tartiere on September 25, 2025 in Oviedo, Spain. (Photo by Juan Manuel Serrano Arce/Getty Images)
Barcelona youngster Hamza Abdelkarim proved himself the star of the show in the club’s latest pre-season friendly outing on Friday evening.
Afforded the chance to impress by Hansi Flick, the young Egyptian – whose arrival in Catalunya’s capital was made permanent this summer – took full advantage of the opportunity afforded to him.
After Barcelona made the trip to St. Andrew’s for a meeting with English outfit Birmingham City, Abdelkarim was chosen to lead the Blaugrana frontline.
The 18-year-old from here went on to draw the Spanish champions level late in the first-half, courtesy of a confident spot-kick:
Abdelkarim then doubled his tally for the night on the hour mark, showing off his goalscoring instincts with a close-range finish after a shot from the edge of the penalty area was spilled:
After Birmingham made it 2-2 a short time later, the fixture was sent to a penalty shootout, from which the hosts ultimately emerged triumphant.
For young striker Abdelkarim, though, it proved an outing which will live long in the memory…
Conor Laird – GSFN