Badalona hail Al Ahly friendly as a ‘historic celebration’

Badalona have described their upcoming friendly against Al Ahly as “a match for history” as the Spanish club continue preparations for the new season.

The Spanish side said the fixture was an important part of their pre-season programme and praised Al Ahly as one of the biggest clubs in the world and the biggest in Africa.

Badalona highlighted Al Ahly’s record of success, noting that the Egyptian club have won the CAF Champions League 13 times and collected more than 120 trophies across different competitions.

The club also thanked Al Ahly for their co-operation in helping to arrange the match. Badalona said the meeting would be a special football celebration that would remain in the memories of those involved.

In a statement published through their official social media accounts, Badalona added that they were ready for the challenge as they seek to reach their best level before the start of their league campaign.

The friendly forms part of Al Ahly’s training camp in Spain, which began on Thursday and will run until 19 August. The camp also includes a meeting with Barcelona in the Joan Gamper Trophy.

Al Ahly finished last season’s Egyptian Premier League campaign in third place with 53 points and will be aiming to win the title in the new season.

They will begin their league campaign against Eastern Company Enppi on Sunday, 23 August, at Cairo International Stadium.

Al Ahly will also enter the round of 32 in the CAF Confederation Cup, where they will face the winner of the tie between Somali club Mogadishu and Uganda’s Kitara.

The first legs of the round-of-32 matches are scheduled to take place between 16 and 18 October, with the return fixtures due to be played between 23 and 25 October.

For Badalona, the Al Ahly fixture represents both a major pre-season test and an opportunity to mark the club’s preparations with a high-profile occasion. Their description of the match as a historic event reflects the significance they attach to facing a team with Al Ahly’s continental record.

The Egyptian club’s 13 CAF Champions League titles and total of more than 120 honours were central to Badalona’s announcement, with the Spanish side presenting the game as a meeting with one of Africa’s most successful clubs.

Al Ahly’s wider preparations will continue in Spain before the side return to competitive action. Their immediate domestic objective will be to improve on last season’s third-place finish, while their continental campaign will begin with the Confederation Cup round of 32 in October.

Badalona said the match would form part of their own work towards the new campaign, with the club determined to use the occasion to prepare for the demands of the season and to reach their strongest possible level before league competition begins.