Paris Saint-Germain hosts FC Barcelona on Wednesday evening in the quarter-final first leg of the Champions League. The main danger for the Catalans: their youth.
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PSG finds its great rival but this time with the label of favorite. Paris Saint-Germain faces FC Barcelona on Wednesday April 10 in the quarter-final first leg of the Champions League. The great Barça has lost its splendor and is experiencing a contrasting season. But Barça remains a formidable opponent, notably thanks to young players taking power. Striker Lamine Yamal and central defender Pau Cubarsi, 16 and 17 years old respectively, are the faces of this new golden generation trained at La Masia, the name of the Barcelona training center.
Between them, they are not yet the age of star Robert Lewandowski, Barça’s Polish striker (35 years old). The two young Spaniards, precocious phenomena who for several weeks have been carrying the Catalan club on their shoulders, are looked after by their coach Xavi, also a pure product of the Blaugrana team. “This is what we are building, what we are getting from the local talent in La Masia. There are a lot of people who have worked to get these boys ready. This is Barça!” ignites the former midfielder.
“We have to take advantage of this generation of players who are very good. I’m very satisfied.”
Xavi, FC Barcelona coachat franceinfo
Because since their emergence, FC Barcelona has been doing better, with no defeats since the end of January and a second place in the Spanish championship. Many even see Lamine Yamal as the future Léo Messi, just that. He was dubbed by the former icon of the club, left-handed like him, and ambitious like the Argentine star. “It’s my first quarter-final and it’s a dream to be able to play itexplains Yamine Lamal. We have to play our game and dominate them. We have to beat PSG and then in the semi-finals, anything can happen.”
Yamine Lamal even warned Paris Saint-Germain: he will score on Wednesday evening. He who, at 16 years and 8 months, has already scored six goals in 40 matches with Barça.