Match Preview: Barcelona vs Al Ahly

Barcelona will compete against Al Ahly in the 2026 Joan Gamper Trophy, looking to secure their 48th title in this prestigious annual event. This match serves as the final preparation for Barcelona before the official La Liga season kicks off, where they will face Elche on August 23.

The team, managed by Hansi Flick, has had a mixed pre-season, winning three out of five friendly matches, including a notable 5-2 victory against Basel. In contrast, Al Ahly has only played one friendly this summer, suffering a 1-2 defeat to CE Europa on August 14. This upcoming match will be their second and final friendly before the start of the Egyptian Premier League season, where they will meet Enppi on August 23.

Barcelona has undergone significant changes during the summer transfer window, acquiring five new players: Anthony Gordon, Karim Adeyemi, Jesse Bisiwu, Rodri, and Joao Cancelo. However, they are still on the lookout for an additional striker, with Julian Alvarez from Atletico Madrid being a primary target.

Historically, Barcelona has dominated the Joan Gamper Trophy, having won it 47 times and not losing since 2012, when they fell to Sampdoria. This impressive record adds extra motivation for the team to maintain their stronghold in this annual competition.

In terms of player availability, Barcelona will be without Frenkie de Jong and Roony Bardghji due to injuries. Nevertheless, they still boast a strong squad, including returning players Lamine Yamal, Pau Cubarsi, and Dani Olmo, who recently celebrated a World Cup victory with Spain.

On the other hand, Al Ahly will miss Youssef Belammari and Ibrahim El Asyuti due to injuries. Coach Hussein Ammouta is expected to rotate his lineup to ensure his players are well-prepared for the upcoming season.

The anticipated starting lineups are as follows:

• Barcelona: J. Garcia, Kounde, Cubarsi, Martin, Balde, Bernal, Espart, Gordon, Olmo, Yamal, Raphinha.
• Al Ahly: Shobeir, Hany, Ibrahim, Reyad, Mohamed, Ateya, Kouka, Ashour, Zizo, Bakrar, El Shahat.

The match between Barcelona and Al Ahly is scheduled to kick off at 1:00 AM on August 20, 2026, Vietnam time.