The scene of many concerts that has seen great and old rockers, Montjuïc, with the best entry of the season (50,301 spectators, even more than in the October classic), celebrated that it will see its first quarterfinals of the Champions League. They will also be the first for Lamine Yamal, Cubarsí and Fermín, obviously. But also for Araújo, Koundé or Raphinha, players who had never had the opportunity to know the decisive zone of the great European competition.
A youthful Barça team does not have much experience, which is precisely what the strength of its youth players is catapulting. But you can't play it alone with children, some of whom are of high school age. These need references, teachers, mirrors in which to look at themselves. And the key duel against Naples served to show that in the locker room there are players who have done their part and who also know how to pitch in.
Cruyff coined, in his day, the term sacred cows and the heavyweights responded last night of all nights. Overshadowed by the spectacular brilliance and explosion of the Masia kids, as dazzling as it was unexpected, they wait for their moment with patience and their good work. At a safe pace. They still have several lessons to share, tranquility to transmit and energy to expend.
Ter Stegen said he would return for the Champions League and he has kept his word. There he was, flying to clear a header from Di Lorenzo that could have made it 2-2 in the first half.
Cancelo, who enters his thirties this year, is a man of important games. He doesn't hide there. He already scored against Porto in a duel that almost put the team in the round of 16 and scored in the match that gave them a place in the quarterfinals. He has played for City and Bayern but you can tell that he wants to stay and put down roots at Barça.
Gündogan also arrived this summer, who continues without rest and there are already 41 games without stopping. He comes from winning a treble with City and doesn't break a single drop of sweat. If he has to be on base, he obeys. If he must move forward to be closer to the last pass, he steps in.
The last time he played in the Champions League round of 16, Lewandowski scored a hat-trick. It was, of course, with Bayern in 2022 because last year they did not qualify for the playoffs. This season he only celebrated one goal in the league but he scored against Napoli in the first leg (0-1) and in the second leg, where he scored 3-1. He only had to push but, despite being 35 years old, the Pole has already scored 19 goals this season, one every two games. The top international competition is his favorite showcase, in which he has already beaten goalkeepers 95 times.
It was Sergi Roberto who assisted him in that action inside the area. The captain had a great last half hour in which he acted like an aspirin. He made the fans' headaches go away, relaxed the team on the pitch and led Barcelona to qualification.
We must give credit to Xavi because the man from Reus had not played since January 24 but the coach was clear about it. The coach intervened from the bench because the start of the second half was not looking good for the locals. He brought in Sergi Roberto for Fermín and that allowed Gündogan to get a few meters ahead. With that simple touch-up, Barcelona reorganized itself. It was the necessary key. Use the classics.
Experience is a degree and these players can still contribute a lot. They are veterans. Curiously, there are five of the players in the Blaugrana squad who know what it means to lift the Champions League trophy – the others are Christensen and Oriol Romeu. But they are here to try to add another orejona to their record. They don't want a golden retirement, but rather they are motivated to compete until the end. They have their military done. But they don't give up. They don't have a white flag.
