Bencharki, Benjedida in line to start for Al Ahly in historic Barcelona clash

Moroccan forwards Achraf Bencharki and Soufiane Benjedida are expected to start for Al Ahly when the Egyptian giants face Barcelona in the Joan Gamper Trophy at Camp Nou on Wednesday.

The pair are set to form part of a three-man attack alongside Algerian forward Monsef Bekarar, according to the expected line-ups published by Spanish newspaper Sport.

The match will also attract attention in Egypt because of Hamza Abdelkarim, the former Al Ahly striker who is expected to begin the game on Barcelona’s bench.

Abdelkarim starts on bench against former club

Abdelkarim’s return to face his former club will be one of the major storylines of the encounter.

The Egyptian forward came through Al Ahly’s ranks before moving to Barcelona and has impressed during pre-season, scoring three goals to become the Catalan club’s leading scorer during their preparations.

Despite that form, Sport expects Barcelona manager Hansi Flick to leave Abdelkarim out of the starting XI.

Flick is still considering his preferred option for the centre-forward role ahead of Barcelona’s La Liga opener against Elche. Raphinha was deployed in the position during the club’s previous friendly against Basel.

Abdelkarim could nevertheless feature from the bench as he makes his first appearance in front of Barcelona supporters at Camp Nou.

Bencharki and Benjedida lead Al Ahly’s attack

Al Ahly are expected to field a frontline featuring two Moroccan players, with Bencharki and Benjedida joined by Algeria’s Bekarar.

Mostafa Shobeir is predicted to start in goal, while Koka, Hadi Riad, Yasser Ibrahim and Mohamed Hany are expected to form the defence.

Marwan Attia, Akram Tawfik and Ali Mahmoud are set to operate in midfield.

The inclusion of Bencharki and Benjedida gives Al Ahly two Moroccan attacking options capable of providing an outlet as the Egyptian side attempt to cope with Barcelona’s expected possession dominance.

Barcelona’s attacking stars start

Barcelona are expected to name a strong line-up for their return to Camp Nou, with Lamine Yamal and Raphinha among the attacking players selected.

Juan Garcia is predicted to start in goal behind a defence of Eric Garcia, Andreas Christensen, Gerard Martin and Alejandro Balde.

Marc Bernal, Espart and Fermín López are expected in midfield, while Yamal, Karim Adeyemi and Raphinha make up the predicted attack.

The Barcelona bench is expected to include Wojciech Szczesny, Jules Koundé, Pedri, Dani Olmo and Abdelkarim.

The match is scheduled for 21:00 Cairo time at Spotify Camp Nou as part of the Joan Gamper Trophy, with Al Ahly making history as the first African and Arab club to participate in the prestigious Barcelona tournament.