Raphinha penalty puts Barcelona firmly ahead of Al Ahly in Joan Gamper Trophy

Barcelona strengthened their advantage over Egyptian club Al Ahly as Raphinha converted a penalty to make it 2-0 in the Joan Gamper Trophy at Spotify Camp Nou on Wednesday.

The Brazil forward scored in the 45th minute after the referee awarded Barcelona a spot-kick when Raphinha was brought down inside the penalty area. He took responsibility from 12 yards and sent the ball to the right of Egypt international goalkeeper Mostafa Shobeir.

Barcelona had taken the lead in the 30th minute through former Al Ahly forward Hamza Abdelkarim. The 18-year-old finished from close range after being found by a low cross from left-back Alejandro Balde.

Abdelkarim chose not to celebrate against his former club. Instead, he placed his hands beneath his head in a gesture of apology towards the Al Ahly supporters.

The match holds particular significance for the young Egyptian, who is facing the club where he began his senior career after completing a permanent move to Barcelona.

Abdelkarim initially joined the Catalan club on loan for the second half of last season. In June 2026, Barcelona announced that they had activated the purchase option in his loan agreement, allowing them to secure the forward on a contract running until the summer of 2029.

His performances during pre-season have also attracted considerable attention. Abdelkarim scored in Barcelona’s 5-2 victory against Swiss side Basel and then found the net twice in a 2-2 draw with English club Birmingham City.

The forward’s goal against Al Ahly was therefore his latest contribution during an encouraging preparation period, although his decision not to celebrate underlined his connection with the Egyptian side.

Raphinha’s penalty gave Barcelona a second goal just before half-time and left Al Ahly facing a difficult task in the remainder of the contest. Shobeir was unable to reach the Brazilian’s effort despite diving towards the correct side.

Barcelona’s meeting with Al Ahly forms part of the Joan Gamper Trophy, the traditional fixture held at Spotify Camp Nou. The match also provides a high-profile occasion for Abdelkarim as he begins his next chapter with the Spanish club.

The original coverage included a video of Raphinha’s penalty, while readers were also invited to discuss the latest football news and topics in Kooora forums.