It does not usually happen and that is why it is significant data. But it happened last Tuesday at the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys. For the first time in 21 years, Barcelona fielded a starting eleven in a Champions League match without the presence of any Catalan footballer. Against Porto, Xavi Hernández formed with Iñaki Peña, Araújo, Koundé, Iñigo Martínez, Cancelo, De Jong, Gündogan, Pedri, Raphinha, João Félix and Lewandowski. To find the previous precedent we have to go back to the 2001-2002 season, also with another Catalan coach on the bench, such as Carles Rexach. It was in the first leg of the semi-final against Real Madrid, on Sant Jordi's day at the Camp Nou. That night, cursed for Barcelona fans as Madrid won with goals from Zidane and McManaman, Barcelona initially lined up: Bonano, Reiziger, Abelardo, Frank de Boer, Cocu, Rochemback, Thiago Motta, Luis Enrique, Overmars, Saviola and Kluivert.
In the second half a Catalan footballer (Gabri) did enter. In the return match at the Bernabeu Xavi and Puyol started (1-1).
21 years later, Catalans also appeared in the second half. In this case it was Balde, who came out for Cancelo, and Lamine Yamal, for Raphinha.
In this historical comparison it can be said that on Tuesday there was at least one youth player in the eleven (Iñaki Peña from Alicante). In 2002, not even that because Thiago Motta made his debut directly in the reserve team, as happened recently with Araújo.
In the current Barcelona squad there are only four Catalans: Sergi Roberto, Oriol Romeu, Balde and Lamine Yamal.
