James Beadle saved twice in a shootout as Birmingham Metropolis beat Barcelona following a 2-2 draw after 90 minutes in a pre-season pleasant at St Andrew’s.
Egypt newcomer Hamza Abdelkarim scored twice for Barca of their first warm-up match for the 2026/27 season on the second-tier membership, the 18-year-old initially equalising by changing a Forty first-minute penalty after being fouled by Christoph Klarer.
Birmingham had taken the lead within the thirty first minute when August Priske headed in Alex Cochrane’s cross . however Abdelkarim turned the scoreline round quarter-hour after half-time, sweeping in from shut vary when Beadle spilled Roony Bardghji’s long-range effort.
Barcelona’s second aim was a deserved one on the stability of play and Birmingham, who’re co-owned by NFL icon Tom Brady, responded admirably to regain management and equalise by new £6 million signing Jhon Solis’ end from Klarer’s header.
Cochrane went closest to a winner by arrowing a drive in opposition to the highest of the crossbar earlier than Jack Robinson cleared Alex Gonzalez’s shot off the road through the closing phases.
Beadle made an outstanding double save throughout added time, springing to both facet of his line to repel strikes by the spectacular Roony Bardghji and Gonzalez.
Birmingham Metropolis vs Barcelona: Beadle decides shootout
Former Birmingham prodigy Jude Bellingham, who now performs for Actual Madrid, watched the motion in individual as Beadle, who has once more joined the Blues on mortgage from Brighton & Hove Albion for the marketing campaign, atoned for his error for Barca’s second aim.
New Birmingham signing Luis Vazquez was the primary participant to not rating within the shootout when Aron Yaakobishvili saved from the striker.
Beadle instantly denied Bardghji and Jordi Pesquer hit the crossbar with Barca’s subsequent effort earlier than Yaakobishvili saved from Robinson.
England youth worldwide Beadle, who signed a brand new four-year take care of Brighton in July, saved from Brian Farinas to offer Birmingham the win.
Scott Wright, Ethan Laird and Patrick Roberts succeeded from the spot for Metropolis, as did Alvaro Cortes and Guille Fernandez for the guests.
Birmingham Metropolis vs Barcelona: What’s subsequent for Barca?
Barca, who started their pre-season schedule with out their World Cup stars at a sold-out stadium, face a membership in Birmingham’s division after they meet Preston North Finish behind closed doorways on Monday,
Spain gamers and newly-crowned world champions Lamine Yamal, Ferran Torres, Joan Garcia, Eric Garcia, Pau Cubarsi, Gavi, Dani Olmo and Pedri are among the many stars absent from their journey.
Birmingham journey to fellow Championship membership Swansea Metropolis within the EFL Cup first spherical on August 8 (15:00 BST).
Birmingham group vs Barcelona
Midfielder Solis, who joined Birmingham completely from Girona in June, began.
Centre-back Dael Fry arrived from Middlesbrough a month earlier and was on the bench.
Argentinian Vazquez signed from Anderlecht this week, as did Denmark-born former USA worldwide full-back Kristoffer Lund from Palermo.
Birmingham beginning XI: James Beadle, Shiny Osayi-Samuel, Phil Neumann, Christoph Klarer, Alex Cochrane, Tomoki Iwata, Jhon Solis, Carlos Vicente, Kanya Fujimoto, Jay Stansfield, August Priske
Substitutes: Ryan Allsop, Ethan Laird, Lee Buchanan, Jack Robinson, Scott Wright, Patrick Roberts, Dael Fry, Menzi Mazwi, William Burrell, Bradley Mayo, Cobi Maddox, Luis Vazquez, Briar Bateman
Barcelona group vs Birmingham Metropolis
Karim Adeyemi – an £18.8m signing from Borussia Dortmund final week – began for Barcelona.
Alejandro Balde was on the bench because the left-back continued his damage comeback and winger Raphinha has taken half in particular person classes this week following an injury-hit 2025/26 and World Cup with Brazil.
Frenkie de Jong was not concerned however has travelled with Barcelona and labored within the fitness center because the midfielder continues his restoration from a severe knee damage.
Barcelona beginning XI: Wojciech Szczesny, Xavi Espart, Andreas Christensen, Gerard Martin, Jofre Torrents, Marc Casado, Ebrima Tunkara, Marc Bernal, Karim Adeyemi, Hamza Abdelkarim, Shane Kluivert
Barcelona substitutes: Hector Fort, Alejandro Balde, Ronald Araujo, Alvaro Cortes, Guille Fernandez, Brian Farinas, Tommy Marques, Raphinha, Roony Bardghji, Toni Fernandez, Fermin Lopez, Jordi Pesquer, Iker Rodriguez, Ibrahim Diarra, Oscar Gistau, Orian Goren, Aron Yaakobishvili, Alex Gonzalez
Birmingham Metropolis vs Barcelona stats
- Whereas Barcelona gained La Liga final season, Birmingham completed tenth within the Championship and have been 9 factors off the final place for a play-off marketing campaign to achieve the Premier League
- Barcelona are in camp at St George’s Park, the place they have been beforehand based mostly in 2014 – earlier than successful La Liga, the Copa del Rey and the Champions League – and in 2016
- Their earlier go to to an English membership was a 1-1 draw in opposition to Newcastle at St James’ Park within the Champions League final 16 final season, successful the return match 7-2
- The Spanish facet’s report in opposition to English golf equipment in aggressive fixtures is W38 D23 L21
- Since a 1-0 win at Manchester United within the Champions League in 2019, Barcelona have gained win in 5 aggressive matches in England
- That victory got here at Newcastle in September 2025, when England worldwide Marcus Rashford scored twice and present Barcelona winger Anthony Gordon replied for the Magpies
- Birmingham are winless of their final 5 conferences with Barcelona, with all 5 earlier matches between the perimeters going down within the now-defunct Festivals Cup between 1957 and 1960
- Their win was at residence within the first of these matches, prevailing 4-3 in October 1957 earlier than shedding the return match 1-0 on the Camp Nou the next month
- The tie subsequently went to a one-legged replay in Basel, which Barcelona gained 2-1
- Solely promoted Coventry Metropolis and Ipswich City bettered Birmingham’s complete of 44 factors at residence in final season’s Championship
- These groups have been the one sides to lose fewer residence video games than the three defeats Davies’ group suffered at St Andrew’s within the division
