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Barcelona claimed second place in the inaugural Friuli Venezia Giulia Cup on Saturday, defeating Nottingham Forest 1–0 before suffering a 1–0 loss to Udinese.
The triangular preseason competition consisted of three consecutive 45-minute games, with final standings determining the champion. The Spanish side climbed to the top of the standings after edging out Forest courtesy of a stoppage-time penalty converted by Raphinha.
Udinese also got the better of the English club, making their clash with Barcelona the decisive fixture. The match appeared headed for a scoreless draw, but the home side took advantage of Hansi Flick's high defensive line in the closing moments to claim victory through Vakoun Issouf Bayo.
It was ultimately a disappointing day for the reigning Spanish champions, whose only goal across 90 minutes came from the penalty spot. Flick still departed with several lessons learned, though most of them were concerning.
Flick Welcomes Back Key Figures
Both Raphinha and Fermín López made their returns for Barcelona on Saturday, earning starting spots against Nottingham Forest. The pair appeared fully recovered from their respective injuries and completed the full 45 minutes of Barcelona's opening match.
It was far from a standout display from either player, as Forest kept Flick's side at bay for extended periods, forcing both men to do a lot of chasing. However, they each rose to the occasion late on to secure all three points for the defending Spanish champions.
Fermín earned his side the decisive penalty, positioning himself between two defenders to bring down an aerial ball inside the box. Forest center back Nikola Milenković's attempted clearance saw him rotate into the ball, which struck his arm.
Raphinha then stepped up and coolly slotted home the only goal of the 45-minute contest.
Both players will continue to improve with additional game time, which is an encouraging sign for Barcelona. Furthermore, once the likes of Pedri and Lamine Yamal are back in the fold, Raphinha and Fermín can remind rivals Real Madrid and Atlético Madrid why the Catalans have topped La Liga for the past two seasons.
Barcelona No Doubt Have a Striker Problem
Before Barcelona's two matches got underway on Saturday, reports emerged of Ferran Torres reportedly agreeing terms with Paris Saint-Germain. Should the deal go through, the reigning Spanish champions would be left without a single natural first-team center forward.
The primary target remains Julián Alvarez, but Atlético Madrid appear reluctant to negotiate. With finances stretched and available options narrowing by the week, Flick may be forced to seek internal solutions.
Hamza Abdelkarim appeared to be a promising candidate. The 18-year-old joined the club from Egyptian outfit Al Ahly in June and scored twice in Barcelona's 2–2 draw with Birmingham City in their previous outing.
He was handed starts against both Forest and Udinese on Saturday, yet struggled to make a meaningful impact. Abdelkarim undeniably possesses an impressive work ethic, but he remains a very raw talent. A golden opportunity fell to him on the rebound against Forest, yet he directed his shot straight at the goalkeeper, who was still grounded, rather than into the open net.
Abdelkarim may well develop into a solid depth option, but he is clearly not ready to lead Barcelona's attack in just two weeks' time. In truth, no player on the pitch for the reigning Spanish champions looked capable of filling the No. 9 role. It comes as little surprise that the Catalans managed just one goal across both matches—and it came from the spot.
Karim Adeyemi Is Not the Answer
With Torres's departure seemingly imminent, new recruit Karim Adeyemi had an ideal opportunity to establish himself as a genuine starter in Flick's attacking setup.
The former Dortmund winger made clear he could play "anywhere" upon joining the club, putting himself forward for the vacant No. 9 role following Robert Lewandowski's departure. Yet across his first two appearances for Barcelona, Adeyemi has failed to impress even on his favored right flank.
On Saturday, the 24-year-old spent much of the game casually jogging, going through the motions of pressing opponents without displaying any real urgency or determination. Adeyemi looked sluggish and a beat behind both teammates and opponents alike, particularly when there was a loose ball to contest.
His situation was further complicated by the fact that he was frequently isolated while the bulk of Barcelona's attacking play unfolded on the opposite flank. It was also telling that two of his side's most threatening runs down the right against Forest came from Raphinha rather than Adeyemi himself.
Once Yamal returns to reclaim the right wing, Adeyemi's only realistic path to a starting berth would be through the center forward position. Flick, however, will surely be discouraged by the player's apparent lack of intensity and creativity.