Anthony Gordon set for Barcelona debut against Egypt’s Al Ahly in Joan Gamper Trophy clash

Barcelona forward Anthony Gordon is expected to make his first appearance for the club in a high-profile friendly against Egyptian giants Al Ahly in the Joan Gamper Trophy, according to Spanish newspaper Mundo Deportivo.

The match, scheduled for 19 August in Spain, is set to be Barcelona’s final warm-up game before they begin the defence of their La Liga title – and could provide the first glimpse of their new English star in a Barca shirt.

Gordon will join up with the squad later than his team-mates as he has been granted an extended break following his involvement at the World Cup, where he impressed for England and helped the team secure a bronze medal.

Gordon to miss Birmingham training camp

Under the pre-season plan outlined by the club and reported in Spain, Gordon will not travel with Barcelona to their training camp in Birmingham.

The winger is due to return to Barcelona only after completing his post-World Cup rest period, meaning he will sit out the initial stage of pre-season preparations in England.

Instead, his integration into the team is expected to come once Barcelona are back in Spain and into the final phase of their build-up to the new league campaign.

It is during this concluding stretch of preparations, culminating in the Joan Gamper Trophy fixture against Al Ahly, that the 23-year-old is tipped to make his debut.

Al Ahly–Barcelona tie to be confirmed

Both Barcelona and Al Ahly are expected to formally announce the friendly in the coming hours, once the contracts for the game have been signed.

The Joan Gamper Trophy traditionally serves as Barcelona’s curtain-raiser at home, presenting the squad to supporters ahead of the new season. Bringing in Al Ahly – the most successful club in African football – underlines the commercial and sporting appeal of the fixture.

For Al Ahly, the match will mark the finale of their own pre-season camp in Spain, which is now scheduled to start on 6 August.

Ahly adjust pre-season plans for Barca showdown

Al Ahly had originally planned to begin their Spanish training camp in late July.

However, the opportunity to face Barcelona in the Joan Gamper Trophy has prompted the Cairo club’s hierarchy to push back the start date to early August to ensure the game sits at the end of their preparations.

The encounter will provide Ahly with a high-level test before they return to domestic and continental commitments, as they measure themselves against one of Europe’s elite sides.

Strong Barcelona line-up expected

Barcelona are expected to field a full-strength team for the match against Al Ahly.

With the game taking place only a few days before the start of their La Liga title defence, the fixture is likely to be treated as a key rehearsal, giving the coach a final chance to fine-tune tactics and assess the first-choice XI.

For fans, the prospect of seeing Anthony Gordon’s debut, a near full-strength Barcelona side and the African champions sharing the same pitch adds extra intrigue to a showcase game that traditionally signals the start of the Catalan club’s new season.