Israeli Oriane Goren Impresses in Barcelona Debut at Camp Nou

Israeli midfielder Oriane Goren made a strong impression during his debut for Barcelona's senior team at Camp Nou in the Joan Gamper Trophy match against Al Ahly on August 19, 2026. Coming off the bench, Goren played 28 minutes and nearly scored following a notable play by teammate Anthony Gordon. He received the highest rating on the Barcelona team from Catalan sports media, earning an 8 out of 10 alongside Rafinha. Goren was substituted for Pedri in a planned move to give Pedri playing time after the World Cup. This match marked Goren's first appearance at the iconic stadium, where he quickly created scoring opportunities and demonstrated his skills as an attacking midfielder. Spanish outlets praised his classy performance and predicted he would receive more chances with the first team this season. Bayern Munich coach Hansi Flick was also noted to have confidence in Barcelona's academy players like Goren. Originally expected to join Barcelona B, Goren and teammate Xavi Espar were kept with the senior squad to maximize their minutes. The Joan Gamper Trophy served as Barcelona's final preseason match before the upcoming La Liga season, with Goren expected to spend much of the season with the reserves.