Egyptian striker Hamza Abdelkarim is preparing for a new opportunity with Barcelona Atletic, the Catalan club's reserve team, after first-team coach Hansi Flick left him out of the squad to face Real Betis in the ninth round of La Liga.

The decision comes as the young Egyptian looks for more regular playing time.

He has played only a few minutes for Barcelona's first team this season, making a return to the reserve side an important opportunity to improve his fitness and show his abilities.

According to Spanish newspaper Mundo Deportivo, Abdelkarim is expected to join Barcelona Atletic for Saturday's match against Utebo on October 17 at the Johan Cruyff Stadium, in the seventh round of Spain's fourth-tier league.

Why He Was Left Out

Hamza Abdelkarim was excluded from Barcelona's squad against Real Betis after being selected to join the reserve team.

As a result, he did not take part in the first team's training session on Friday.

Brazilian winger Raphinha's return to Flick's plans has also increased competition for attacking positions, making it more difficult for the Egyptian striker to secure playing time with the senior team.

Abdelkarim has played just 12 minutes for Barcelona this season, including four minutes against Rayo Vallecano and eight against Getafe.

Those appearances have given him little opportunity to show his attacking qualities.

Barcelona believe that playing with the reserve team could be the better option for his development at this stage.

Regular matches would help him improve his match fitness, maintain his physical condition and gain valuable experience.

However, his exclusion from the Real Betis match does not necessarily mean that he is no longer part of Flick's future plans.

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Instead, the move could give Abdelkarim more opportunities to play and prove that he deserves another chance with the first team.

Utebo Opportunity

Barcelona Atletic will host Utebo on Saturday at the Johan Cruyff Stadium in an important seventh-round match, with Abdelkarim hoping to make his first official appearance for the reserve side this season.

The Catalan team currently lead Group Two with 16 points from five wins and one draw, while Utebo sit third with 13 points.

Barcelona Atletic have enjoyed an impressive start under coach Juliano Belletti, winning their last four matches.

Their most recent victory came against SD Logrones, when Juan Ibarra scored in the 89th minute to secure a 1-0 win.

The team also defeated Tudelano 2-1, Pena Sport 4-0 and Barbastro 2-1 during their winning run.

Abdelkarim could be included in the starting lineup against Utebo, with early predictions suggesting that he may lead the attack alongside Aziz Issah and Pissio.

However, his place in the team will depend on Belletti's final decision.

The match could be an important moment for the Egyptian striker, who has yet to make an official appearance for Barcelona Atletic despite being registered with the reserve squad.

It will also give him a chance to demonstrate his finishing ability and show that he can make a difference in competitive matches.

His biggest challenge will be making the most of his playing time and convincing the coaching staff that he deserves a bigger role in the coming weeks.

With strong competition in Barcelona's attack and a clear need for regular minutes, Abdelkarim now enters an important stage of his development that could influence his future with the Catalan club.