Flick cites possession lapses as Barcelona lose to Birmingham on penalties

Barcelona manager Hansi Flick explained his team’s 3-2 penalty shoot-out loss to Championship side Birmingham in a pre-season friendly held on Friday, July 31, 2026 at St. Andrew's Stadium in Birmingham. The match ended 2-2 after regular time, with Barcelona's Hamza Abdelkarim scoring both goals. Birmingham prevailed 3-2 in the shoot-out.

Flick said the side lacked sufficient possession and made a few mistakes, but he remained pleased with the performance of the young players, saying the feeling was good and the coaching staff satisfied.

While the loss highlights areas needing work—particularly ball retention and minimizing errors—the result also shows the squad's depth and readiness for the upcoming season. For Barcelona supporters, the match offers a chance to assess which youngsters are stepping up and where tactical tweaks may be needed before competitive fixtures resume.

What should you take from this? Consider how improved possession and fewer mistakes could turn similar tight contests into wins, and watch whether the youngsters earn more playing time in the coming weeks.

SOURCE: https://dailypost.ng/2026/08/01/why-barcelona-lost-to-birmingham-hansi-flick/