Birmingham City stunned Barcelona in a preseason friendly, beating the Spanish champions 3-2 in penalties after a 2-2 draw at St. Andrew's on Friday. The match was Birmingham City's final warm-up ahead of the new season, which starts with a Carabao Cup tie against Swansea City on Aug. 8.
What happened?
Birmingham City took the lead through August Priske's fourth goal in preseason, but a brace from Egypt striker Hamza Abdelkarim handed the advantage to Barça. Jhon Solís' 68th-minute strike restored parity on the night and forced penalties, where goalkeeper James Beadle emerged as the hero.
Why it matters for Birmingham City
The match was a significant test for Birmingham City's squad, who will be looking to build on their 10th-place finish in the Championship last season. With 64 points from 46 games, the team is 31 points behind leaders Coventry and will be hoping to make a strong start to the new campaign.
What comes next?
Birmingham City will now focus on their Carabao Cup tie against Swansea City on Aug. 8, before beginning their Championship campaign. The team will be looking to build on their preseason form and make a strong start to the new season.
In the Championship, Birmingham City currently sits 10th with 64 points from 46 games, a 17-13-16 record, and a recent form of DWWDW. They are 31 points behind leaders Coventry. The team has scored 57 goals and conceded 56 this season, with a goal difference of +1. The match against Barcelona was a significant test for the squad, who will be looking to build on their preseason form and make a strong start to the new season.
