A young Barcelona side made UEFA Champions League history during Wednesday’s 3-2 win over Paris Saint-Germain in the first leg of their quarter-final.
Never before had a starting XI at this stage of the tournament featured more than one player aged under 18.
Not only did Lamine Yamal, 16, and Pau Cubarsi, 17, start in Paris. The two teenagers performed key roles to help Xavi Hernandez’s side to a terrific result.
Center-back Cubarsi played the full game and made more passes (54) than any of his teammates.
Cubarsi also completed four clearances and did not appear fazed by the presence of Kylian Mbappe, who had a quiet night.
At the other end, no Barca player completed more dribbles than winger Yamal, who set up Raphinha for the game’s opening goal with a low cross that PSG keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma was unable to deal with.
Former Manchester United captain Rio Ferdinand was very impressed.
“The young kids were tremendous,” Ferdinand said during TNT Sports’ live coverage.
“They were carried at times by the experience but sometimes you need that fearless of Cubarsi and Yamal.
“If you think what we were doing at 16 or 17 there was no way we could have gone in and performed at that level, with that kind of energy, aura and chest out to say ‘I’m meant to be here’.”
Lamine Yamal became the youngest player to feature in a Champions League quarter-final, aged 16 years and 272 days old
Cubarsi and Yamal were not the only Barca starlets on display in Paris.
Fermin Lopez, 20, and Pedri, 21, both featured as second-half substitutes, with the latter providing a fine assist with his first touch.
“We have to be proud,” Xavi told TNT Sports. “With Cubarsi, 17, Lamine, 16, Fermin is a player from La Masia also and they have more commitment with the team, so I’m very happy because it’s a new Barca and we are in a good way, I think.”
