Barcelona secured a 2-1 victory over Al Ahly in the Joan Gamper Trophy, a match that provided plenty of talking points on the field, but some of the most intriguing moments unfolded away from the cameras.
From Joao Cancelo‘s disappointment before the game to an incident involving Al Ahly fans in the stands, the evening held more significance beyond just the 90 minutes of play.
Advertisement
One memorable incident involved Hamza Abdelkarim, who wrapped up Barcelona’s pre-season as a standout performer but exhibited a different side of himself after scoring against his old club.
Below are three noteworthy moments from Barcelona vs Al Ahly that the match broadcast didn’t fully capture.
Cancelo Frustrated After Missing Opportunity to Play
Having recently joined Barcelona, Cancelo had hoped to make his debut against Al Ahly.
However, just minutes before kick-off, he was informed that he would not be able to play as his transfer paperwork had not yet been finalized.
Despite it being a friendly match, the defender was excluded from the player list, leaving him visibly frustrated as he returned to the dressing room.
Fortunately, the mood within the squad remained light, with teammates like Gavi joking with Cancelo to lighten his spirits, knowing he would have to wait a bit longer for his opportunity to don the Barcelona jersey.
Advertisement
Relocation of Al Ahly Supporters
A more serious incident took place late in the match when a group of Al Ahly supporters, who had positioned themselves behind one of the goals in the South Stand, displayed banners in Arabic while chanting for their team.
Although the banners contained no offensive or political messages, they obscured the view for other spectators, leading to some tension as objects and bottles were thrown towards the Egyptian supporters.
Stadium security intervened to prevent further escalation and eventually relocated the Al Ahly fans to another area, diffusing the situation.
Advertisement
Abdelkarim Shows Respect to Former Club
Perhaps the most poignant moment occurred with Hamza Abdelkarim.
The young striker capped off a stellar pre-season, finishing as Barcelona’s top scorer with four goals, and has garnered praise from Hansi Flick for his performances.
However, his reaction upon scoring against Al Ahly was particularly noteworthy.
Facing his former club, Abdelkarim opted for a respectful celebration, forgoing wild exuberance and instead graciously accepting the congratulations of his teammates. This small gesture reflected his ongoing connection to Al Ahly.