La Masia has done it again: Barcelona starlet announces himself in win over Valencia | OneFootball

Barcelona’s meeting with Valencia on Saturday night saw a new star announce himself firmly onto the stage of Spanish football.

Barcelona are of course fresh off kicking the club’s La Liga campaign into gear.

In their first outing under the watch of new head coach Hansi Flick, the Blaugrana made the trip to Mestalla, for a meeting with the aforementioned Valencia.

When all was said and done, the evening’s visitors did enough to emerge on the right side of the result, owing to a brace on the part of Robert Lewandowski.

Whilst it was a veteran member of Barca’s ranks who made the difference when it comes to the scoreline, though, it was a player of altogether more tender years who stole the show in the eyes of many.

The player in question? Marc Bernal.

After a stellar pre-season under the watch of new boss Flick, midfielder Bernal was rewarded by way of a first-ever competitive start at senior level on Saturday.

And to say that the 17-year-old went on to take advantage of the opportunity would be something of an understatement.

Looking like a seasoned veteran, Bernal went about his business in the middle of the park with style and grace, barely misplacing a pass or putting a foot wrong all night.

As much is evidenced by the statistics, with the Spanish starlet having completed 94% of his passes, whilst coming out on the right side of the majority of his individual duels, too.

If the early signs are anything to go by, it would certainly appear that the famed La Masia academy has done it again…

Conor Laird | GSFN