Barcelona deploy La Masia youth for Atletico Madrid Champions League clash
Barcelona will face Atletico Madrid in the Champions League quarter-finals this week relying on a record-breaking crop of La Masia academy graduates.
The Catalan giants enter the highly-anticipated tie following a historic 7-2 aggregate demolition of Newcastle United in the round of 16.
That spectacular result represented the biggest margin of victory by a Spanish team against English opposition in 60 years.
Manager Hansi Flick achieved this milestone while fielding the club’s youngest knockout team in history, bringing the average age down to just 25 years and 18 days.
Record-breaking teenage talent
Five homegrown players featured in the dominant victory over their Premier League opponents.
By starting Lamine Yamal, Pau Cubarsi and Marc Bernal, the five-time European champions surpassed Ajax to become the team with the most teenage starters in Champions League knockout history.
The Blaugrana also introduced 18-year-old midfielder Xavi Espart from the bench.
Flick has already compared the promising youngster to legendary German defender Philipp Lahm.
In total, 14 academy products have featured at senior level for the Spanish heavyweights this season.
A recent study by the CIES Football Observatory revealed that these under-contract graduates possess a collective transfer value almost three times higher than any other global academy.
Cruyff’s enduring legacy
Former youth coach Xavi Garcia Pimienta believes this current crop of youngsters perfectly embodies the philosophy instilled by Johan Cruyff in 1988.
“I feel very connected to the fact Barcelona has so many homegrown players in the first team right now. It’s an honour for me because I’ve been part of that process too, both as a player and a coach.”
The 51-year-old tactician spent 17 years developing talent within the famed youth system and previously won the UEFA Youth League in 2018.
Even veteran striker Robert Lewandowski has benefited from the youthful energy surrounding him, with the 37-year-old continuing to score freely at the pinnacle of European football.
“These players are demonstrating the level that they have, with the clear way of playing that of course came with Johan Cruyff and has been maintained and perfected ever since.”
As the Catalan club prepares for an intense all-Spanish showdown against Diego Simeone’s side, their unwavering faith in youth remains their greatest weapon.
