Barcelona Draws 2-2 with Birmingham in Preseason Match Featuring Israeli Oriane Goren

Barcelona played a 2-2 draw against Birmingham City in a preseason friendly in England on Friday. Israeli player Oriane Goren entered the match in the 62nd minute, marking his first participation with Barcelona's senior team during their training camp. Birmingham took the lead in the 31st minute with a header from Danish player August Priske, celebrated by Birmingham fans including Jude Bellingham, who was present at St. Andrews stadium.

Barcelona, fielding a largely second-string lineup without many international stars, equalized in the 42nd minute through a penalty scored by Egyptian Hamza Abdel Karim. Abdel Karim then scored a second goal after a goalkeeper error in the 60th minute. Barcelona coach Xavi Flick made several substitutions shortly after, including bringing on Goren and goalkeeper Aaron Jakobshvili, a 20-year-old Jewish-Hungarian who replaced Wojciech Szczesny. Birmingham leveled the score again in the 68th minute with a goal by Colombian John Solis.

This match was Barcelona's first game in their England training camp. The team will next participate in a triangular preseason tournament in Udine on August 8, facing Udinese and Nottingham Forest in shortened 45-minute matches. On August 19, Barcelona will host Al Ahly in the Gamper Trophy, their final preparation before the La Liga season opener against Elche on August 23.