Barcelona have included Egyptian striker Hamza Abdelkarim in their squad for Sunday’s highly anticipated clash against Real Madrid, giving the 18-year-old a fresh opportunity to make an appearance for the first team in one of football’s biggest rivalries.
The young forward was named in head coach Hansi Flick’s squad despite returning to Barcelona Atlètic two weeks ago. His selection follows an impressive performance against Utebo at the Johan Cruyff Stadium.
Abdelkarim made an immediate impact in the match, opening the scoring from the penalty spot in the sixth minute. He went on to play 74 minutes as Barcelona Atlètic secured a 2-1 victory.
The result extended the reserve team’s winning streak to five consecutive matches and helped them maintain their position at the top of the standings. Abdelkarim’s performance also strengthened his case for more opportunities with Barcelona’s senior side.
The Egyptian striker had already attracted attention during pre-season, scoring four goals to finish as Barcelona’s leading scorer in the preparatory matches, highlighting his attacking potential and ambitions to establish himself at the club.
His return to the reserve team came amid limited playing time with Flick’s first team. Abdelkarim made his competitive debut for Barcelona’s senior side against Rayo Vallecano on August 31.
His inclusion in the squad for Sunday’s El Clasico could provide another opportunity to demonstrate his abilities at the highest level, should he be given the chance to feature against Real Madrid.
Barcelona will enter the match aiming to strengthen their position at the top of La Liga. The Catalan club currently lead the standings with 27 points, while Real Madrid sit third with 21 points and will be looking to close the gap on their rivals.
Abdelkarim joined Barcelona on loan from Egyptian club Al Ahly in February, marking an important step in his development and providing him with an opportunity to gain experience at one of Europe’s leading football clubs.
