Al Ahly’s defeat to Barcelona in the Joan Gamper Trophy sparked plenty of reactions, particularly after the match featured several technical details that raised questions about the Egyptian club’s level ahead of the start of the new season. ⚽
Ibrahim Said, the former Egyptian football player, commented on the match, arguing that Al Ahly were unfairly treated because, in his opinion, a penalty was not awarded. At the same time, he described the game as a valuable experience against one of Europe’s biggest clubs.
📢 Ibrahim Said: Al Ahly Were Unfairly Treated Against Barcelona
Ibrahim Said wrote on his official Facebook account that Al Ahly had been denied what he considered a clear penalty, while also describing the match as a valuable friendly despite some mistakes in the team’s performance.
The former Al Ahly player also pointed to question marks surrounding the level of some players, but stressed that the team should be judged carefully at this stage, particularly because the new season has not officially begun yet.
His comments highlight the importance of viewing the Barcelona match as part of Al Ahly’s preseason preparations rather than as a final test of the team’s level or its ability to compete throughout the upcoming campaign. ⭐
🧤 Mohamed El Shenawy’s Return Is Al Ahly’s Biggest Gain
Ibrahim Said considered Mohamed El Shenawy’s return to form to be Al Ahly’s most important gain from the Barcelona match, particularly after the goalkeeper produced an impressive performance.
El Shenawy looked strong against the Catalan side and managed to save a penalty during the final minutes of the game, once again demonstrating his ability to make a difference in major matches.
His return comes at an important time for Al Ahly, who need an experienced goalkeeper during the new season, especially with the team competing for domestic and continental trophies.
The importance of El Shenawy’s performance goes beyond saving the penalty, as his display can also provide confidence to both himself and his teammates before the official competitions begin. 🔥
⚽ Al Ahly Lose 2-1 to Barcelona
Barcelona defeated Al Ahly 2-1 in the match played at Spotify Camp Nou as part of the Joan Gamper Trophy.
The Catalan side started strongly and opened the scoring through Egyptian player Hamza Abdelkarim in the 29th minute before Brazilian forward Raphinha doubled Barcelona’s advantage from the penalty spot during the first half.
Al Ahly attempted to fight their way back into the match after the break, with Ahmed Mostafa Zizo scoring the Egyptian club’s goal to reduce the deficit and give his team a chance to level the score.
Al Ahly improved during the second half compared with the opening period, showing greater attacking intent while attempting to press Barcelona and create scoring opportunities. However, their efforts were not enough to secure an equalizer.
⭐ A Valuable Experience Before the New Season
Despite the defeat, the Barcelona match represents an important experience for Al Ahly before entering official competition, particularly because facing a club of Barcelona’s level gives players an opportunity to deal with a different level of speed, pressure and movement.
At the same time, the match exposed several areas that the coaching staff need to work on, whether defensively, in build-up play or in terms of taking advantage of scoring opportunities.
Ibrahim Said believes such mistakes are understandable at the beginning of a season, stressing that Al Ahly still have time to improve their performance and reach their best possible lineup and level of understanding between the players.
🏆 Al Ahly Prepare for the League
Following the conclusion of their overseas training camp in Spain, Al Ahly’s focus now turns toward official competition, with the team preparing to begin its Egyptian Premier League campaign against Eastern Company Enppi.
The match will take place at 8:00 PM next Sunday, August 23, at Cairo International Stadium.
Al Ahly hope to turn the experience gained during preseason, particularly the Barcelona match, into a strong league start as the team aims to compete for all available trophies during the new season.
Ultimately, the Barcelona match appears to have been a useful test for Al Ahly rather than simply another friendly, revealing strengths that can be developed and weaknesses that need to be addressed before the season begins. Mohamed El Shenawy’s performance remains one of the most positive signs to emerge from the match. 🏆
Do you agree with Ibrahim Said that Mohamed El Shenawy’s return was Al Ahly’s biggest gain against Barcelona? And how would you rate the team’s performance before the start of the new season? Share your opinion. 📢🔥
