After a decent Champions League first leg towards Napoli, Barcelona took benefit of a quick begin to win 3-1, pushing into the final eight groups remaining 4-2 on combination. Fueled by targets from Fermin Lopez and Joao Cancelo, Xavi Hernandez was in a position to make an unorthodox lineup work and stand up to Napoli concentrating on Andreas Christensen in defensive midfield. Led by their youth, three gamers 20 or youthful contributed to Barcelona’s victory, and none of them had been named Pedri or Gavi, who’re among the many most well-established first-team La Maisa graduates at present within the squad.
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It has been a making an attempt season for Barcelona and rather a lot will change as Xavi is departing on the finish of the season however the fruit of his baptism by hearth of his youthful gamers has paid dividends. Out of the 29 gamers to characteristic for Barcelona in La Liga or Champions League play this season, 11 of them are 21 years previous or youthful and the youngest of them, Lamine Yamal, has performed the eight most minutes of any Barcelona participant this season within the two competitions.
Solely 16, Yamal is in uncharted waters as he has turn out to be arguably Barcelona’s second or third-best attacker behind Robert Lewandoski and Raphinha at his younger age with six targets and 7 assists in all competitions. It is one factor to play minutes at his age in a top-five league but it surely’s a very completely different prospect to contribute a lot in these appearances.
Yamal is somebody who whenever you watch him play soccer, the it issue is there. From dribbling to his work fee to profitable the ball again to his imaginative and prescient and skill to create one thing out of nothing, when most can be considering who to take to the homecoming dance in school, Yamal is starring for Barcelona and being known as into the Spain squad. His contributions will be seen in Barcelona’s second aim the place his move from deep discovered Raphinha earlier than Cancelo ultimately powered it dwelling.
Even together with his spectacular efficiency, Yamal wasn’t even essentially the most spectacular teenager within the match as Pau Cubarsi took dwelling man of the match honors for his efficiency in protection.
It might be a season for Barcelona that does not finish in silverware however this looks as if the start of what may very well be a terrific period for the membership if correct growth continues. Monetary points will be eased by counting on the academy and below Xavi they’re exhibiting enchancment by the day. Enjoying with home cash within the final eight of the Champions League, Barcelona will turn out to be a group that nobody desires to face as when there isn’t any strain and nothing to lose, that is when a group can shine the brightest. By even making it this far, they are going to see Xavi off the best method, however now it is right down to seeing how far Barcelona’s academy can take their supervisor.
