Paris Saint-Germain handed Barcelona a 4-2 defeat at the Parc des Princes, showing Hansi Flick’s squad the current benchmark in European football. Despite the loss, the match highlighted the continued success of Barcelona’s La Masia youth academy through a standout performance by 19-year-old defender Xavi Espart.
Xavi Espart’s Breakout Performance
Espart stepped into the starting lineup as an emergency right-back following injuries to Eric Garcia and Jules Kounde, successfully neutralizing top winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and later Desire Doue without being dribbled past once. The former midfielder, who converted to a full-back in the academy, also scored Barcelona’s opening goal by beating Matvey Safonov at the near post during a counter-attack.
Hansi Flick praised the teenager in his post-match news conference, stating that Espart played as though he had spent years with the senior squad and handled top-tier attackers with ease. Espart made his first-team debut last season against Newcastle, featured five more times by the end of the campaign, and has already started seven of nine La Liga matches at left–back this term, earning a Spain under-21 call-up last month.
La Masia Youth Shines on the European Stage
Espart was joined by fellow 19-year-olds Lamine Yamal, Pau Cubarsi, and Marc Bernal as part of Barcelona’s youngest starting lineup in a Champions League away match in over 20 years, with an average age of 24.38. Cubarsi delivered another strong performance as an elite centre-back, while Yamal bounced back from a first-half error to score an equalizer from a tight angle, making him the first player in Europe’s top five leagues to reach 10 goals and 10 assists this season.
Looking Ahead to El Clasico
With an upcoming match against Real Madrid on Sunday, Flick managed his squad’s minutes by benching Rodri and substituting Pedri and Raphinha after an hour. Flick acknowledged that fatigue contributed to the team’s mistakes against PSG, noting that the squad will learn from the defeat as they prepare for the domestic fixture.
Source: Soccer - The Athletic
