Spanish giants Barcelona face Saudi Arabian heavyweights Al Ahli in the Qatari capital of Doha on Tuesday in a friendly game organised by their shared sponsor Qatar Airways.
It will be the seventh time the Catalans have played against an Arab club, with six friendlies and just one competitive meeting in the FIFA Club World Cup.
BARCELONA 6-1 AL AHLY (1961)
Barcelona’s first match against Arab opposition was won by six goals to one. The comprehensive victory over Al Ahly was achieved back in 1961, the year in which Barca beat Real Madrid in the European Cup before losing to Benfica in the final.
BARCELONA 3-0 WYDAD ATHLETIC CLUB (1974)
The Catalans’ second meeting with an Arab opponent was a clash against Moroccan side Wydad Athletic Club (WAC). Though not as convincing as their first outing, Barca still recorded a comfortable 3-0 victory over the Casablanca outfit.
BARCELONA 4-0 AL AHLY (2007)
Another visit to Cairo brought another easy win as Barca smashed four goals past Ahly without return, meaning it was a somewhat unhappy centenary celebration for the Egyptians. Javier Saviola opened the scoring from a corner before a young Bojan Krkic scored his first ever goal for Barcelona. The Stoke forward had ‘Cairo’ inscribed on his boots to commemorate the occasion. Samuel Eto’o added both the third and fourth goals for Barca.
BARCELONA 1-1 KAZMA (2009)
Bojan was at it again as he opened the scoring for Barcelona on their first ever visit to Kuwait with a delightful chip. But hosts Kazma pegged back the Catalans in the second-half to earn a very creditable 1-1 draw. They remain the only Arab side not to have lost against Barca.
BARCELONA 4-1 AL AHLY (2009)
Wembley Stadium was the location for Barca’s third meeting with the Egyptians as both sides took part in the pre-season Wembley Cup alongside Tottenham and Celtic, the latter of whom going on to win the tournament. Bojan AGAIN scored, opening proceedings for Barca with a smart finish before Hanny el Egizy equalised. An unbelievable long-range strike from Jonathan Soriano restored the lead and goals from Jeffren and Pedro secured the win.
BARCELONA 4-0 AL SADD (2011)
The 2011 Club World Cup brought Barca’s only competitive meeting against an Arab club and with it, another impressive victory as the Asian Champions League winners were decimated in Japan. It was also notable as David Villa’s final game for Barcelona, a double leg fracture ending his career with the Catalans prematurely. Mohamed Saqr had a night to forget as he conceded sloppy goals to Adriano (2) and Maxwell, as well as Seidou Keita.
BARCELONA 8-0 RAJA CASABLANCA (2012)
A second game against Moroccan opposition brought Barca’s biggest win against an Arab club in a pre-season friendly in 2012. The Catalans blew Raja Casablanca away, going 5-0 up at half-time thanks to two from Alexis Sanchez and a hat-trick from captain for the day Lionel Messi. Dani Alves scored a penalty in the second-half, with Sergio Gomez and Gerard Deulofeu putting the icing on the cake.