Barcelona’s pre-season friendly at St. Andrews ended in a 2-2 draw on Friday, with Championship side Birmingham City prevailing 3-2 on penalties. The result, however, was overshadowed by the performance of Hamza Abdelkarim, an 18-year-old Egyptian centre-forward who scored both goals for the Spanish champions on his first senior start.

Birmingham took the lead in the 31st minute through Danish forward August Priske. Abdelkarim drew Barcelona level just before the interval, winning and converting a penalty in the 42nd minute. He then put the visitors ahead on the hour mark, pouncing on a rebound from the Birmingham goalkeeper to complete his brace. The home side responded in the 68th minute when Colombian midfielder Jhon Solís, a close-season signing on loan from Girona, struck from a set-piece to make it 2-2 and force the shootout.

Abdelkarim, who joined Barcelona on loan from Al Ahly in February 2026 and has since had his purchase option exercised, is already being called the “new Salah” in Egypt, though the comparison owes more to nationality than playing style. Standing 1.90 metres tall, he is a physical centre-forward with a reputation for aerial ability and finishing, traits that earned him the alternative nickname “Egyptian Haaland”. His two goals on Friday came from his only two shots, and he completed the only dribble he attempted, according to performance data. Barcelona are expected to initially assign him to Barça Atlètic, the club’s reserve team in Spain’s fourth tier, but head coach Hansi Flick is monitoring the youngster during pre-season.

Flick also handed a second senior appearance to 17-year-old Israeli talent Orian Goren, who came off the bench in the 63rd minute. With several internationals still absent after the World Cup, the German coach is using the preparatory matches to assess academy graduates. Abdelkarim’s display will strengthen his case for further first-team involvement, though his immediate competitive future lies with the reserves.