Pau Cubarsí, at 17 years and 79 days old, has made history by becoming the youngest defender ever to start a Champions League quarter-final match. He played a crucial role in Barcelona's victory, showcasing impressive skills in marking Kylian Mbappe and making line-breaking passes. Xavi, Barcelona's coach, acknowledges PSG as favorites but praises his team's defensive solidity and Raphinha's performance.
🔵🔴 Xavi: “Pau Cubarsí will mark an era at the club. He’s a crucial player for us and he’s 17! He looks older for the way he plays”. “I’m really proud to see the team competing like this”. https://t.co/ipdd1Au1tX
🗣️ Xavi: “Jules Koundé is one of the best defenders in the world at the moment.” ⭐️ https://t.co/PSJSS56VaN
No player has successfully dribbled past 17-year-old Pau Cubarsí in the Champions League this season. He's stopped both Victor Osimhen and Kylian Mbappé from scoring 😳 https://t.co/7VUBwauGbe
👏 Line-breaking passes 😎 Drag-backs on the halfway line 😮 Unfazed 1v1 v Mbappe 👣 Comfortable with both feet 👃 Scenting danger Aged 17yrs & 79 days, Pau Cubarsi played centre back for Barcelona against PSG in their CL QF last night. What a talent… https://t.co/gvR68jQ3ux
Pau Cubarsi became the youngest defender to start a Champions League quarter final last night. Here's @Alvaro_Romeo from a few weeks ago on why keeping Kylian Mbappe quiet is no big deal for the 17-year-old... 🎧 Listen: https://t.co/7gto07H7ku 🎥 Watch: https://t.co/HdMR3EGCTs https://t.co/AsvHHj8sBC
What were you doing when you were 17? For Pau Cubarsi, the answer is becoming the youngest defender to start a Champions League quarter-final, looking totally at home marking Kylian Mbappe and passing out from the back with style. He is a truly exceptional talent. @stujames75
17-year-old Pau Cubarsí came up big for Barcelona 💪 https://t.co/FZhTIFo6Ft
🔵🔴🇧🇷 Xavi: “Raphinha is exciting, he’s really fantastic… if you see how he’s pressing, always trying the best”. “I love his personality, and he gives us a lot: his attitude is perfect, the way he presses”. https://t.co/Wm43kZx8Ot
🔵🔴 Xavi: “I believe that PSG remain to be the favorites”. “We’ve just tightened the gap because defensively we’ve been solid. I’m very proud because it was a great victory against one of the best teams in the world. We are halfway there”. https://t.co/uCVbDP7jz0
On Barcelona's opening goal, it was the line-breaking pass from 17-year-old Pau Cubarsí that started the sequence and launched their attack. The youngest defender to EVER start a UCL quarterfinal is making an impact 🔥 https://t.co/hiL0lPoRQ3
At 17 years and 79 days, Pau Cubarsí has become the youngest defender EVER to start in the quarterfinals of the Champions League. He'll be tasked with slowing down Kylian Mbappe at the Parc des Princes. No pressure 😅 https://t.co/lTFpac4M7p
🚨 𝗥𝗘𝗖𝗢𝗥𝗗: Pau Cubarsí will become the youngest defender in history to start a quarter-final of the Champions League. He is 17 years and 79 days old! 👶💙❤️ https://t.co/7LtCZDad7v