CartagenaCartagenavs.BirminghamBirmingham City

Blues travelled abroad following their success over neighbours Solihull Moors on Saturday, while Cartagena are turning out for their first fixture of the summer.

Match preview

Cartagena begin their pre-season schedule after finishing ninth in La Liga 2 last term, equalling their standing during the 2021-22 term previously.

Luis Carrion's men ended up nine points behind sixth-placed Albacete in the final playoff spot, and a run of five matches without a maximum at the end of the campaign eliminated any chance of an unlikely promotion push.

It was a story of veteran forwards for Cartagena last term, with 32-year-olds Alfredo Ortuno and Armando Sadiku bagging nine and eight goals respectively for Ephese, with the latter since moving to Indian club Mohun Bagan.

With the club only founded 27 years ago, Carrion is looking to guide Cartagena to their first-ever spell in the top flight of Spanish football, although they face competition from some huge clubs in escaping the second tier.

Birmingham City are no strangers to top-flight football over the course of their history, however the Second City club are now gearing up for their 13th straight campaign in the Championship.

A 17th-placed finish last season represented a steady start for former Queens Park Rangers assistant John Eustace on the Blues managerial hotseat, with the club tipped last summer to endure their first relegation to League One this century.

While a takeover of the West Midlands side by American businessman Tom Wagner draws close to completion, the task for the footballing staff at Birmingham is to prepare a squad which has lost its core during the off-season.

A reliance on loans during the 2022-23 season means that Blues no longer have Hannibal Mejbri, Dion Sanderson, Auston Trusty and Reda Khadra as they prepare for their second-tier opener on August 5 - four players who comfortably made the team's starting XI last term.

The Second City club were able to re-sign Derby County enforcer Krystian Bielik permanently following a loan spell at St Andrew's last season, with Ethan Laird and Tyler Roberts other names to come through the metaphorical door in the West Midlands.

Cartagena friendly form:

Cartagena form (all competitions):

W

D

D

L

L

L

Birmingham City friendly form:

W

Birmingham City form (all competitions):

L

W

L

L

L

W

Team News

Cartagena have made a few signings so far during this summer's transfer window, with midfielder Hector Hevel arriving from fellow La Liga 2 side FC Andorra on a free transfer.

The Spaniards have also bolstered their defensive ranks with the capture of Gonzalo Verdu from Elche, ending the 34-year-old six-year spell at Estadio Manuel Martinez Valero.

As for Birmingham, Tahith Chong has been omitted from Eustace's squad that travelled to Spain on Sunday afternoon, with the Dutchman reportedly completing a medical at Luton Town ahead of a £4m move to the Premier League.

Some absences from the Blues travelling party have been enforced by fitness, with Sam Cosgrove and George Hall both remaining at the club's Henley-in-Arden training base to continue their rehabilitations from injury.

Poland international Bielik has also stayed put in England after he was forced off at half-time during the Solihull Moors clash on Saturday - a precautionary scan has revealed that the midfielder will be sidelined due to a hamstring strain for around three weeks.

Former Blackpool winger Keshi Anderson is on trial with Blues as the club look to fill the hole set to be left by the departing Chong, and the Englishman should be given another chance to impress on Friday night after setting up Lukas Jutkiewicz's winner at Solihull.

Cartagena possible starting lineup:

Martinez; Alcala, Vazquez, Kiko, Datkovic; Musto, Rico, Sangalli; Ferreiro, Ortuno, Lee

Birmingham City possible starting lineup:

Ruddy; Laird, M Roberts, Long, Longelo; Sunjic, Bacuna, James, T Roberts, Anderson; Jutkiewicz

We say: Cartagena 1-1 Birmingham City

Cartagena are enjoying the best period in the club's 27-year history, and a meeting with Championship side Birmingham should be a good test ahead of the 2023-24 term.

Blues never seem to set the world alight in these pre-season fixtures - a share of the spoils and no injuries for Eustace's men would represent a successful evening at the Pinatar Arena.

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