Barca hit four in pre-season win as Hamza Abdelkarim makes senior debut

Barcelona eased to a 4-1 friendly victory over third-tier side Europa as Egypt international forward Hamza Abdelkarim made his first appearance for the club’s senior team.

The match formed part of Barca’s preparations for the new campaign, with head coach Hansi Flick naming Abdelkarim in his starting line-up for the game against Europa.

The Egyptian, recently promoted to the first team during pre-season, featured from the outset but did not get on the scoresheet, despite some local reports in Spain suggesting otherwise.

According to Spanish newspaper Mundo Deportivo, the goals in Barcelona’s win were scored by Brahim Djara, who opened the scoring on 13 minutes, Hector Fort, who doubled the lead in the 29th minute, Ibrahim Tunkara, who struck early in the second half on 48 minutes, and Alex Gonzalez, who added a fourth in the 58th minute.

Europa, who play in Spain’s third division, managed one goal in response but were comfortably beaten in the friendly encounter.

Abdelkarim starts, Adeyemi on the bench

Flick used the contest to look at a number of players as he shapes his squad ahead of the new season, with Abdelkarim handed a starting role in attack.

New signing Karim Adeyemi, who has joined from Borussia Dortmund, began the match on the bench for Barcelona against Europa.

Abdelkarim’s inclusion from the start underlines the coaching staff’s willingness to test him at senior level after his promotion during the summer build-up, with this match marking his first outing for the first team.

Focus turns to pre-season schedule

Barcelona are due to play a series of friendly matches before the competitive action begins, using these fixtures to build fitness and integrate new and younger players into Flick’s system.

The most high-profile of those games will be against Al Ahly on 19 August in the Joan Gamper Trophy, the club’s traditional curtain-raiser ahead of the new season.

The convincing win over Europa and the first-team bow for Abdelkarim form part of that broader pre-season programme as Barcelona continue their preparations for the upcoming campaign.