Media personality Ahmed Shobier criticized Al Ahly’s performance during the first half of their match against Barcelona, stressing that the Egyptian side looked much better after the break and could have equalized in the match that ended with Barcelona winning 2-1 in the Joan Gamper Trophy. ⚽
Shobier said in radio comments that Al Ahly failed to deliver the expected performance during the first half, with the team struggling to build attacks and maintain possession.
He added that Al Ahly needed a long time before beginning to complete its passing sequences effectively, noting that the team’s first extended sequence of successful passes came around the 40th minute of the first half.
🔥 Shobier: Al Ahly Were Afraid Against Barcelona
Shobier explained that Al Ahly approached the match with excessive caution, which affected the team’s overall shape during the opening half.
He said that “Al Ahly were afraid, and the lineup, especially in central defense, wasn’t right,” suggesting that the coaching staff’s initial choices were not effective enough.
At the same time, Shobier praised Karim Fouad and Mohamed Hany, stressing that both players delivered good individual performances despite the team’s overall struggles during the first half.
⚽ Simple Mistakes Behind Barcelona’s Goals
Shobier pointed out that Barcelona’s two goals came as a result of mistakes by Al Ahly players, arguing that the Egyptian side could have avoided conceding both goals.
He described the goals as “two simple mistakes,” referring to the opening goal scored by Hamza Abdelkarim and the penalty converted by Raphinha before the end of the first half.
Those mistakes put Al Ahly under additional pressure, with Barcelona entering halftime two goals ahead and leaving the Egyptian side with a more difficult task after the break.
⭐ Al Ahly Improve After Halftime
Shobier stressed that Al Ahly’s performance changed noticeably during the second half after the players became less cautious than they had been in the opening period.
He said that “in the second half, Al Ahly got rid of some of the fear and looked better, and they could have scored the equalizer.”
Al Ahly did manage to reduce the deficit early in the second half through Ahmed Sayed Zizo, giving the Egyptian side renewed hope of making a comeback.
The team became more active in Barcelona’s half and created greater attacking danger, but Al Ahly ultimately failed to score a second goal before the final whistle.
👀 Shobier Praises Al Ahly’s New Signings
Shobier also praised new signings Monsef Beqir and Soufiane Bendjedid, stressing that both players possess good qualities and could provide an important addition to the team during the new season.
He specifically highlighted Beqir’s technical ability, pointing to his good touches, passing quality and ability to read the game.
Shobier said that “Beqir’s touches are good, his passing is good, he has a good feel in his foot, and he sees the pitch well.”
His comments come as Al Ahly fans wait to see more from the club’s new signings during official competitions, particularly after the end of the preseason and several friendly matches in Spain.
🏆 Al Ahly Lose to Barcelona in the Joan Gamper Trophy
Barcelona won the Joan Gamper Trophy after defeating Al Ahly 2-1 in a match played as part of both teams’ preparations for the new season.
The Catalan side scored twice during the first half before Ahmed Sayed Zizo pulled one goal back for Al Ahly early in the second half.
Despite Al Ahly’s attempts to complete the comeback, Barcelona maintained its advantage until the final whistle to secure victory and lift the Joan Gamper Trophy.
Shobier concluded by stressing that Al Ahly deserved to be awarded a penalty during the match, adding to the debate surrounding several incidents during the game.
The Barcelona match remains an important test for Al Ahly ahead of the new season, giving the coaching staff an opportunity to identify the team’s strengths and weaknesses and correct its mistakes before official competitions begin. 🔴🏆
