Pressure versus pedigree: Birmingham outshines Barcelona at St Andrew's

The Barcelona side fell on penalties to Birmingham City at St Andrew's Stadium on 31 July 2026, with Egyptian youngster Hamza Abdelkarim scoring a double in a 2‑2 draw before the shoot‑out. The contrast between a Championship club displaying a "no tickets" sign and a European giant missing several internationals set the tone for a dramatic pre‑season encounter.

Birmingham City, competing in the English Championship, announced the "no tickets" policy at St Andrew's and forced the match into a penalty shoot‑out after a level 2‑2 after regular time. The English side’s high‑pressing approach in the first half limited Barcelona’s ball exit, a factor highlighted by the sports journalist covering the action.

Goalkeeper Beadle made three crucial saves from eleven metres, a performance that helped Birmingham secure a 3‑2 win in the shoot‑out. The decisive penalties saw Wright open the series, Yaakobishvili answer with a save, and Bardghji miss a chance to put Barcelona ahead before Laird made it 2‑1.

Barcelona arrived under Hansi Flick with six first‑team players and five La Masia graduates, but without internationals still on World Cup holiday and with Fermín, Raphinha, Balde and De Jong listed as injured. Andreas Christensen wore the armband, while club president Joan Laporta stayed home after receiving medical clearance that morning.

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The scoring opened in the 31st minute when August Priske headed in a cross from Cochrane. Hamza Abdelkarim forced a penalty in the 40th minute and converted it a minute later, then completed his double in the 60th by capitalising on a rebound from Roony Bardghji’s shot, putting Barcelona ahead.

The lead lasted eight minutes before Colombian Jhon Solís, signed from Girona this summer, equalised from a set‑piece. Cochrane later struck a volley that hit the bar, and a defensive clearance by Alex González on the line in the 89th minute preserved the draw.

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In the shoot‑out, Beadle saved three of five kicks, sealing Birmingham’s victory. After Wright’s opening goal, Yaakobishvili saved Vázquez’s attempt, Bardghji failed to gain the advantage, Laird made it 2‑1, Beadle denied Pesquer, and Fariñas missed the final spot‑kick.

The friendly highlighted Barcelona’s reliance on youth, with Abdelkarim emerging as a real substitute up front while Flick awaits the return of World Cup players. Karim Adeyemi’s debut lasted only 45 minutes without a breakthrough, underscoring the transitional phase for the Spanish club.