Nine Masia graduates against Levante

No fewer than nine La Masia graduates featured in the spectacular win against Levante on Sunday, all playing their part in a dominant display from start to finish, with some of the most magnificent football of the season so far.

Ronald Koeman started with six locally developed players in his side: Gerard Piqué, Eric Garcia, Òscar Mingueza, Sergio Busquets, Nico González and Pablo Gavi. All of them were once Masia residents, and Nico and Gavi are actually still on the Barça B books.

But there were more to come after the break: Riqui Puig, Ronald Araujo (who was never a Masia resident but did play for Barça B for two seasons) and Ansu Fati, the sensation of the game, marking his comeback after 323 days injured with a spectacular goal right at the end.

Young blood 

Seven of the nine Masia products are aged 22 or less: Gavi (17), Ansu (18), Nico (19), Eric Garcia (20), Riqui Puig, Araujo and Mingueza (22).

And although they did not grow up at the club, Dest (20) and Demir (18) added to the remarkably youthful nature of the line-up.

And lest we not forget, there are three other players on the senior team roster that were groomed locally, namely Jordi Alba, Sergi Roberto and Iñaki Peña, not to mention other Barça B players that are helping out, such as Alejandro Balde.

And when we note that the likes of Pedri, Frenkie de Jong and Dembélé are still very much in their youth, there is no question that this is very much a team for the future – much of the talent produced right here at FC Barcelona.