FC Barcelona completed their pre-season schedule with a 2-1 victory over Egyptian side Al-Ahly to win the 2026 Joan Gamper Trophy at Camp Nou.
Youngster Hamza Abdelkarim opened the scoring in the 30th minute before new club captain Raphinha converted a 45th-minute penalty to seal the win, giving the Spanish side momentum ahead of their LaLiga opener away at Elche on Sunday.
The annual fixture served as the official presentation of Barcelona's squad for the upcoming campaign. Midfielder Rodri received a thunderous ovation from the crowd after joining as the marquee summer signing, taking on the role of team conductor while promising commitment, tactical balance, and trophies for the new project.
Squad presentation and star signings
Fans at Camp Nou also welcomed fellow star signings Karim Adeyemi and Anthony Gordon, both of whom drew enthusiastic applause during the pre-match ceremony. Raphinha then took the microphone to deliver his first address since being appointed team captain.
The Brazilian winger congratulated the world champions in the squad for their outstanding achievements and welcomed the new arrivals. He told the squad that wearing the Barcelona shirt and representing the crest carried immense responsibility and represented one of the most beautiful experiences of his life, expressing confidence that the new additions would feel the same way.
Before kick-off, manager Hansi Flick delivered an emotional speech to the supporters. The German coach recalled the loss of his father the previous May, describing it as one of the hardest moments of his career. He expressed heartfelt thanks to the club and its fans for their overwhelming support during that period.
Managerial promises and season ambitions
Turning to the footballing challenges ahead, Flick declared that the team was fully prepared to work hard every day and compete for every available trophy. He offered explicit thanks to club president Joan Laporta and sporting director Deco for their efforts in constructing the squad ahead of the new campaign.
The Joan Gamper Trophy is Barcelona's traditional pre-season showcase, established in honour of the club's Swiss founder. Beyond securing another trophy for the cabinet, the match highlighted the continued emergence of talent from La Masia youth academy alongside established international stars. Barcelona enter the domestic season seeking to defend their league ambitions while targeting a sixth European Cup title.
The pre-season presentation followed the high-profile departure of forward Ferran Torres, who recently left Barcelona to join French champions Paris Saint-Germain as their marquee signing. Following his transfer, Torres remarked that the Paris club provided the ideal environment to win the UEFA Champions League.
Egyptian giants Al-Ahly mounted a stubborn performance throughout the contest, but Barcelona held firm to finish their pre-season preparations with a positive result. The Catalan side now turn their focus to their first competitive match of the LaLiga season when they travel to face Elche.
