FCBARCELONA.CAT

08.10.2007 12:55

Eight homegrown players

Sergi Nogueras

Apart from the three points and the good performance in the match against Atlético Madrid, it was encouraging to see that Barça ended the match with 8 homegrown players on the pitch.

Barça’s youth policy is certainly paying dividends as the match against Atlético Madrid clearly demonstrated. No fewer than 8 players brought up through the youth ranks of the Club were part of the eleven that scored the third and final goal: Valdés, Oleguer, Puyol, Xavi, Iniesta, Messi, Giovani and Bojan. That beats this season’s previous high of seven against Athletic Club.

The precedent

However, this was not the first time that one of Frank Rijkaard’s Barça teams had fielded 8 homegrown players at the same time. In the 2005-06 season, the Dutch coach used 8 players from the youth ranks on 13th May away to Sevilla. However, Barça had already clinched the league title 10 days earlier and were just 4 days away from playing the Champions League so it was no surprise that Rijkaard turned to some of the youngsters in order to rest his senior players. The eight that finished the match were: Jorquera, Iniesta, Rodri, Ludovic, Motta, Xavi, Gabri and Montañés. Oleguer also played.

Throughout the team

Homegrown players were present in all areas of the team this Sunday, starting with Valdés in goal, Oleguer (right back) and Puyol (central defender) in defence, Xavi and Iniesta in midfield and Messi, Giovani and Bojan in attack.

Two goals

Two of Barça’s three goals were also scored by homegrown talent. Messi put Barça in front in the 19th minute while Xavi finished off the match with a goal in the 90th minute, after a great assist from Giovani.