Coach Xavi Hernandez placed full confidence in the matured talents emerging from La Masia training ground in the Barca vs Napoli second leg match of the Round of 16 in the Champions League, and he achieved resounding success. The history of Barca has demonstrated that when the team faces adversity, the graduates from the La Masia academy step up to the challenge. And they did so once again against Napoli. The trio comprising Fermin Lopez, Lamine Yamal, and Pau Cubarsi emerged as the latest heroes of the Catalan club.
20-year-old midfielder Fermin Lopez opened the scoring, 16-year-old forward Yamal stirred trouble in the attacking line, and 17-year-old defender Cubarsi displayed resilience in defense. This youthful trio propelled Barca into the Champions League quarterfinals for the first time in four years.
Coach Xavi Hernandez made the bold decision to bench experienced defender Inigo Martinez in favor of Cubarsi’s debut in the Champions League. He deployed Fermin Lopez to bolster a midfield depleted by the absence of De Jong and Pedri due to injury. Meanwhile, Yamal formed a formidable attacking trio alongside Raphinha and Lewandowski.
Pau Cubarsi has become a phenomenon for Barca this season. In the 90 minutes at the Lluis Companys Olympic Stadium, the 17-year-old player effectively neutralized Napoli’s main striker, Victor Osimhen. Despite Osimhen not exhibiting the formidable form of the previous season, he remained a potent threat. However, against Cubarsi, the highly sought-after forward was effectively neutralized.
Not only did Cubarsi demonstrate exceptional defensive prowess, but he also executed notable cross-field long passes reminiscent of Koeman’s style. In fact, one of his passes nearly resulted in a goal for Fermin Lopez. Despite missing two clear opportunities earlier in the match, Lopez found the back of the net with his third chance. In the 15th minute, the Andalusian player intelligently positioned himself to receive Raphinha’s pass from the left flank before accurately slotting the opening goal.
Although fatigued towards the end of the match, Lopez once again showcased his abilities at the right moment. His opening goal eased the game for Blaugrana significantly. Lopez serves as a role model for other young players at Barca, as he continuously strives to earn regular playing time for the first team through dedication and hard work on the training ground.
Another promising talent from Barca making an impression is Lamine Yamal. Despite being only 16 years old, this prodigy is gradually becoming a cornerstone of Barca, with many expectations resting on his shoulders, including potentially becoming a “new Messi” leading the team to future glories.
In the match against Napoli, Yamal once again illustrated why Blaugrana is excited about the upcoming future. However, it’s imperative for the club to develop him well to avoid setbacks like injuries suffered by Pedri or regrettable stunting of potential like Ansu Fati.
In addition to the “young trio of defenders,” another La Masia graduate left his mark in Barca’s victory over Napoli. That player is Sergi Roberto. Coming on as a substitute for Fermin Lopez in the 60th minute, he changed the game. Not only did he assist Robert Lewandowski’s third goal, but Roberto also helped Barca maintain control of the midfield.
The 2023/24 season hasn’t been entirely smooth for Roberto, but he has shown that he has the qualities to contribute to Barca. With his experience, this versatile player could play a decisive role in the most crucial matches of the Catalan club’s season. After his performance in the victory over Napoli, Barca’s leadership may need to reconsider whether they want to part ways with one of their most loyal players of the past decade.
After many years of premature exits from the top European competition, Barcelona can now aim for greater heights in this season’s Champions League. All thanks to the significant contributions of the matured players from La Masia.