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BARCELONA — The final time Barcelona reached a Champions League quarterfinal, Lionel Messi nonetheless performed for the membership and the world was in lockdown as a result of COVID-19 pandemic.
Throughout the 4 years since, there was only one look within the round-of-16, two group stage eliminations and loads of dwelling on the previous. Now, although, as Barça return to the final eight for the primary time since 2020 after beating Napoli on Tuesday, there are causes to look in direction of a brighter future — even when this season has not gone fully to plan after successful LaLiga final yr.
Fermín López, João Cancelo and Robert Lewandowski might have scored the targets as Barça beat Italian champions Napoli 3-1 on the Olympic Stadium, incomes a 4-2 mixture win, nevertheless it was as soon as once more youngsters Lamine Yamal and Pau Cubarsí who had been most spectacular.
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Yamal, 16, was Barça’s match-winner in opposition to Mallorca on the weekend and he was typically too good for skilled Napoli left-back Mário Rui, who struggled to take care of his tempo and trickery. The Spain worldwide led the counter-attack which led to the second objective within the seventeenth minute, weighting an ideal cross to Raphinha, whose shot off the publish was turned dwelling by Cancelo. By that time, López, the 20-year-old midfielder filling in for the injured Pedri and Frenkie de Jong, had already opened the scoring with a well-taken end as a part of a wide ranging Barça begin.
Maybe the one disappointment for Yamal, who already has 13 objective contributions this season, was that he did not add his personal title to the rating sheet. He had 5 photographs and got here shut, one whipped left foot effort curling inches huge within the second half.
On the again, Cubarsí, 17, gained the battle with Iñigo Martínez for a beginning berth and didn’t disappoint on his Champions League debut. He went toe-to-toe with Napoli’s hazard man Victor Osimhen, proving greater than up for the bodily battle. With the ball, making simply his twelfth first-team look, he as soon as once more excelled, finishing 61 of his 68 passes, a number of of them breaking the strains to arrange counter-attacking possibilities.
“He is unbelievable, he was the sport’s finest participant,” midfielder Sergi Roberto stated of Cubarsí’s efficiency. “He does not cease shocking us, within the final 16 of the Champions League and taking part in this manner … he is a participant who could be right here for his entire life.”
It’s outstanding that these younger gamers are already having such an impression on Barça’s senior facet. In opposition to Napoli, they grew to become the primary membership in Champions League knockout stage historical past to begin a number of gamers below age 18. They’ve now began three completely different gamers below 18 in a Champions League knockout stage match — the aforementioned duo and Bojan Krkic in 2008 — overtaking Bayern Munich‘s document (Jamal Musiala and David Alaba).
It’s vindication for La Masia in Barça’s hour of want. Since coach Xavi Hernández, who led Barça to a primary LaLiga title since 2019 final season, asserting he’ll step down in the summertime, outcomes have begun to enhance. They’re now unbeaten in 9 video games in all competitions. Along with the return of goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen from damage and the usage of Andreas Christensen as a defensive midfielder, a big a part of that’s right down to Yamal and Cubarsí. López, one other participant from the membership’s academy, was additionally good for an hour earlier than tiring in opposition to Napoli.
There will probably be warning about simply how far Barça can go from right here. There have been some acquainted defensive flaws as they let Napoli again into the sport, Cancelo handing the fitting flank to Matteo Politano, who teed up defender Amir Rrahmani to get the Serie A facet again within the sport earlier than half-time. There have been some nervy moments after the break, however Barça weathered the storm and deservedly sealed their passage into the final eight when substitute Roberto did effectively to arrange Lewandowski.
Lewandowski’s nineteenth objective of the season prompted wild scenes on the Olympic Stadium as all the Barça bench spilled into the nook to have a good time. This was a big night time for the membership: their first Champions League knockout tie at dwelling with followers for the reason that semifinal in opposition to Liverpool in 2019 (Napoli and Paris Saint-Germain in 2020 and 2021 had been performed behind closed doorways). There was a terrific ambiance inside and outdoors the stadium — which has not all the time been the case this season at Barça’s momentary dwelling, the place they’re taking part in whereas Spotify Camp Nou is redeveloped — and, in the long run, a consequence to match.
Qualification additionally means a €10.6 million payday for the membership — plus income from one other large dwelling match — which is essential as a result of they’d budgeted for a quarterfinal look of their annual accounts.
They could not progress any additional. Manchester City, Real Madrid, PSG and Bayern Munich should still be out of their attain, however the membership are again the place they imagine they belong. And, to be helped there by academy-developed expertise, will make it really feel even sweeter. They continue to be eight factors off the tempo in LaLiga, however Xavi’s dream send-off continues to be a chance in Europe.
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