Birmingham defeat Barcelona on penalties in pre-season friendly with Jude Bellingham in attendance

Championship side Birmingham City defeated La Liga champions Barcelona after a penalty shootout at St Andrew’s on Friday.

With Barcelona’s side featuring primarily academy players and first team reserves, the match was sent to spot-kicks after full time ended with the scoreline at 2-2.

New summer signing Karim Adeyemi was amongst the starters, as was goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny, defenders Gerard Martin and Andreas Christensen and midfielders Marc Casado and Marc Bernal.

Adeyemi was in action at St Andrew’s (Catherine Ivill – AMA/Getty Images)

Real Madrid and England star Jude Bellingham was in attendance for the game, wearing a Birmingham home shirt in the stands. The 23-year-old came through the academy at Birmingham, becoming the youngest player to appear for the first team as a 16-year-old. He made 44 appearances for the side before joining Borussia Dortmund in 2020, with Birmingham retiring his No 22 shirt.

August Priske, who joined Birmingham in January from Swedish club Djurgarden, gave Birmingham the lead in the 31st minute. 18-year-old Egyptian striker Hamza Abdelkarim equalised from the penalty spot 11 minutes later after being brought down in the box by Christoph Klarer.

Abdelkarim then put Barcelona ahead on the hour mark, tapping home from close range after substitute Roony Bardghji’s shot from the edge of the box was parried. However, Jhon Solis levelled the game for Birmingham in the 68th minute, volleying home after a well-worked free kick.

In the shootout, young Barca goalkeeper Aron Yaakobishvili made two stops, as did Birmingham’s James Beadle, with 17-year-old Barcelona defender Jordi also hitting the crossbar.

We then win it 3-2 on penalties!

Good to have you, @FCBarcelona https://t.co/7u3T9kI0Hv pic.twitter.com/jtC2gWQnnZ

— Birmingham City FC (@BCFC) July 31, 2026

Birmingham get their 2026-27 season underway when they visit Swansea City in the first round of the Carabao Cup on August 8, before playing their first Championship game of the campaign at Sheffield United a week later. Barcelona have friendlies against Nottingham Forest and Italian club Udinese scheduled before they open their league season with a visit to Elche on August 23.