Five things we learned from Birmingham City 2-2 Barcelona (3-2 on pen)
· Yahoo Sports
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Barcelona’s first big pre-season test ended in a 2-2 draw against Birmingham City, with Hamza Abdelkarim scoring both goals for the Catalan club. The La Liga champions ended up losing on penalties.
It was never a game where the scoreline was expected to be the focus, though, with many first-teamers still away after their World Cup commitments.
Hansi Flick used this opportunity to hand several youngsters important minutes, and some players grabbed it with both hands.
Hamza may have scored both goals, but there was a lot more to gain from this game from a Barça perspective.
Here are five things we learned from Barcelona’s 2-2 draw against Birmingham City.
Hamza Abdelkarim, a natural striker profile
If there was one player who walked away from St Andrew’s with his reputation enhanced, it was the Egyptian.
He scored both of Barça’s goals, but it was the manner in which they came that stood out. His penalty showed confidence, while his second goal demonstrated the instincts that separate natural No. 9s from converted forwards.
Making a name for himself. (Photo courtesy: FC Barcelona official website)
He anticipated the rebound before anyone else, attacked the loose ball immediately and finished instinctively inside the penalty area.
At a time when Barça are searching heaven and earth to find their new number nine, Hamza is quietly putting his hand up.
Barcelona have lacked that type of penalty-box predator in recent seasons. It is still far too early to put pressure on the 18-year-old, but his movement suggested he possesses qualities that simply cannot be coached.
Flick will surely be keen on working with him closely in the upcoming season.
Alvaro Cortes is ready for the first team
One of the quiet winners of the evening was Alvaro Cortes. Facing experienced Championship attackers is rarely comfortable for young defenders, yet the La Masia defender never looked overwhelmed.
He defended with maturity, stayed composed in possession and made sensible decisions throughout his minutes on the pitch.
He outshone his senior compatriot, Gerard Martin, who played in the same position in the first half, and showed Flick that he was ready for the first team. His confident penalty in the shootout also reflected a strong personality.
If Barcelona ultimately decide not to sign another central defender, performances like this strengthen the argument that Flick already has an internal solution.
Ebrima Tunkara has enormous upside
Much has been spoken and written about Ebrima Tunkara, and there is no doubt that he is widely considered one of the most talented La Masia starlets at the moment.
Ebrima Tunkara – a special talent. (Picture credit: Instagram/@ebrimatunkara10)
Against Birmingham City, he may not have dominated the headlines, but he produced one of the most exciting individual displays. His ball-carrying ability immediately catches the eye.
He glides past defenders with quick feet, yet combines that technical quality with a powerful physique that allows him to protect possession and win duels.
In many ways, he looks like a fascinating blend of Lamine Yamal’s close control and Adama Traore’s physicality.
There is still plenty to refine, but his ceiling appears extremely high, and it would not be surprising if he receives more first-team opportunities this season.
Alex Gonzalez was the surprise package
Barcelona became noticeably more dangerous after Alex Gonzalez entered the match, replacing Shane Kluivert in the second half.
The long-locked winger immediately added directness, constantly attacked defenders and injected much-needed energy into the left flank.
Rather than staying wide, he repeatedly made aggressive diagonal runs into the penalty area, movements that resembled the intelligent attacking patterns Raphinha has developed under Flick.
He was also not afraid to try a trick or two and combined very well with Jordi Pesquer on the left flank. Those runs forced Birmingham’s defence to react differently and gave Barcelona another genuine goal threat after half-time.
Gonzalez capitalising on his chances. (Photo courtesy: FC Barcelona official website)
It was an impressive cameo from the player, and he emerged as quite the surprise package.
Karim Adeyemi flattered to deceive
Adeyemi’s debut was not spectacular, but it had quite a few encouraging moments.
Starting on the right flank, he showcased good associative skills to combine with Xavi Espart and Ebrima Tunkara, despite only recently joining training.
His pace immediately gave Birmingham problems whenever Barcelona found space behind the defence, and his willingness to attack defenders fits perfectly with Flick’s aggressive style.
However, the final decision often let him down. There were moments when an earlier pass, a different shooting choice or greater composure would have produced better outcomes.
That said, this is not a cause for concern. Adeyemi is still adapting to his teammates and has had only a few training sessions under his belt.
The important positives to take from this game were his explosive acceleration and link-up play, but Barça will expect so much more from their summer signing in the coming weeks.