Barcelona began the triangular tournament in Udine with a narrow 1-0 victory over Nottingham Forest on Saturday, with Raphinha scoring from the penalty spot in stoppage time to settle a closely contested opening game.
The Brazilian’s late intervention spared Barcelona from a frustrating result after Nottingham Forest had controlled much of the early action. The Spanish side gradually improved as the 45 minutes progressed, but had to work hard before finally securing victory in the closing stages.
The match formed part of Barcelona’s preparations for the new season, and head coach Hansi Flick used the occasion to blend established first-team players with members of the club’s academy. The performance reflected a team still building its fitness and cohesion, with Barcelona requiring further work before reaching their best level.
One of the main talking points was the continued use of Egyptian forward Hamza Abdelkarim as the central striker. The academy player started in the same position for a third consecutive match, having also been selected from the beginning against Europa and Birmingham.
Abdelkarim’s involvement came during a difficult outing for the forward, while Barcelona sought to create a greater threat in attack. The team eventually found the decisive moment through Raphinha, who converted the late penalty to give Flick’s side a winning start to the tournament.
The fixture also marked the first appearance of the pre-season campaign for both Fermin Lopez and Raphinha. Karim Adeyemi, meanwhile, retained his place in the starting XI.
Flick’s team included several teenagers in defensive and midfield roles. Espart and Besquier, both aged 17, occupied the two full-back positions, while Farinas operated in midfield.
Their inclusion underlined the developmental nature of Barcelona’s line-up, with senior players and academy prospects sharing responsibility in the first match of the three-team event. Despite Nottingham Forest enjoying the stronger start, Barcelona were able to improve after the interval and remain competitive until the final whistle.
The result gives Barcelona an early victory in Udine, although the narrow margin and the need for a stoppage-time penalty also highlighted the team’s current lack of fluency. Flick will now have further opportunities to assess his players and develop the squad’s readiness during the rest of the tournament.
For now, Raphinha’s penalty provided the key difference, turning a match in which Barcelona had struggled for long periods into a one-goal victory.
