Cubarsi is the rock upon which Barca must build UCL challenge

Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images

Difference maker

Against Atalanta on Wednesday, if Barcelona could’ve held their nerve, a first place finish wasn’t beyond them in the Champions League thanks to Liverpool’s loss against PSV Eindhoven.

Lamine Yamal lit up the Estadio Lluis Companys once again with a sensational performance that was capped with a lovely finish to open the scoring for Barca.

More’s the pity that they were unable to hold on and claim all three points.

Of course, it’s all we’ve come to expect from the 17-year-old who is staking a claim to be one of the most important players in the current squad.

Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images

Hansi Flick is blessed that his Barca is peppered with unreal talent, and given that all good teams are build on a solid defensive foundation, one has to once again doff the cap to Pau Cubarsi.

Although the youngster didn’t come on until the 69th minute of the match against Atalanta, it was immediately evident what Barca had missed on his side of the back four.

There was a calm authority about him from the get go, a maturity that’s quickly becoming his hallmark.

Alongside Ronald Araujo, Cubarsi was disciplined and quickly got up to speed with the pace of the game, distributing well. He also gave the defence the balance it had been lacking before he was introduced.

Whilst it seems almost certain that Flick will have wanted to give the 18-year-old a rest, the way that the game was panning out arguably saw the German coach have a change of heart to allow Cubarsi a short run out - a decision that proved to be the right one.

Photo by Urbanandsport/NurPhoto via Getty Images

Cubarsi will continue to make mistakes and errors of judgment in the central defensive role, but they’re absolutely needed as part of his education.

When he plays well so do Barca, and the Catalans will find it hugely difficult to try and go all the way in the Champions League without him in situ.

With Barca set to face Benfica, PSG, Brest or Monaco in the next round, Flick know they are up for a testing clash and have time to ensure they’re ready to compete.

Pau Cubarsi has to be one of the first names on the team sheet if the club are serious about trying to land the trophy for the first time since 2015, when Neymar, Luis Suarez and Lionel Messi were in their pomp for the club.

Source: barcablaugranes.com