Barcelona name Hamza Abdelkarim in starting line-up against Nottingham Forest

Barcelona have named Hamza Abdelkarim in their starting XI for the first half of Saturday’s unusual pre-season arrangement against Nottingham Forest.

Head coach Hansi Flick has selected Abdelkarim to lead the attack, with the match against the English club scheduled to last for one half only. Barcelona will then play a separate match against Udinese in the second half.

The Catalan side’s line-up for the meeting with Nottingham Forest is:

Goalkeeper: Wojciech Szczesny

Defenders: Xavi Espart, Andreas Christensen, Gerard Martin, Jordi Bisquert

Midfielders: Brian Farinas, Fermin Lopez, Marc Bernal

Forwards: Raphinha, Hamza Abdelkarim, Karim Adeyemi

Abdelkarim will operate as the central attacking player in a front three that also includes Raphinha and Adeyemi. The selection places the young forward at the centre of Barcelona’s approach for their opening half against Nottingham Forest.

Flick has opted for Szczesny in goal, while Christensen anchors a defensive line featuring Espart, Martin and Bisquert. Lopez and Bernal are included in midfield alongside Farinas.

Barcelona’s schedule means their players will not complete a conventional full match against a single opponent. Instead, the side will face Nottingham Forest for the first half before taking on Udinese after the interval.

The unusual format is reflected in the announced team sheet, which applies specifically to Barcelona’s opening fixture against Nottingham Forest. The club’s second-half match against Udinese is listed separately, with no team selection given in the announcement.

The line-up was announced on Saturday, 8 August 2026, ahead of the match. It confirms Abdelkarim’s involvement from the start and marks him out as Barcelona’s main attacking option for the first section of the double-header.

Barcelona’s forward options for the Nottingham Forest half combine Raphinha’s inclusion with Adeyemi’s selection and Abdelkarim’s central role. Behind them, Lopez and Bernal provide the midfield pairing alongside Farinas, while the defensive unit is completed by Szczesny.

The first-half contest with Nottingham Forest will therefore be followed immediately by a different challenge against Udinese. Barcelona’s published starting XI relates to the encounter with the English club, in which Abdelkarim is set to begin the match.