Barcelona appeared to be heading for a goalless draw against Athletic Club until Marc Guiu came off the bench to score the game-winning goal in his debut for the Blaugrana. The La Liga giants won 1-0 thanks to a sublime moment from the 17-year-old attacker.
Barcelona’s famous La Masia academy is a tried and true route for producing exceptional talent. Gavi, Alejandro Balde, and, most lately, Lamine Yamal are making an impression on the first team.
With the match at the Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys deadlocked, Barcelona manager Xavi demonstrated his faith in his youthful players. He brought in Lamine Yamal and Marc Guiu, with the latter replacing another academy graduate, Fermin Lopez.
Within 23 seconds, the adolescent was racing in behind to grab a ball from Joao Felix. He gathered his composure and slipped his effort under the onrushing Unai Simon to score less than 30 seconds into his professional debut.
Guiu’s goal must have come as a surprise, even for the prolific teenager who scored against FC Porto in the UEFA Youth League just two weeks ago. Guiu has two goals in seven UEFA Youth League games.
The striker, who worked with Yamal in the academy and at the U-17 level in Spain, proved his worth right away.
Marc Guiu is a huge attacker for his age, standing 6’2″ tall, and he makes the most of his physique. He scored four goals in five games for Spain in the U-17 Euros this summer, finishing as the joint top-scorer as they advanced to the semifinals.
The Spaniard is a conventional number 9 in the mold of legendary strikers from the past, a rare profile in the Barcelona academy. With his ability to come short, run in behind, or drift out wide, he gives his teams a variety of options.
Marc Guiu Is Fulfilling Robert Lewandowski’s Absence
Barcelona had difficulty in attack going into the Athletic Club encounter due to the absence of Robert Lewandowski. They began with Joao Felix as the false nine, but the Portuguese forward lacked the clinical edge of a true striker.
Xavi needed a different option off the bench, and he relied on Guiu to supply it. Wearing the number 38 shirt, the teenager rushed in behind and finished like a veteran, exhibiting no indications of anxiety.
The defending champions will face Real Madrid in their next league match on Saturday, October 28. Although Lewandowski is anticipated to return for El Clasico, Xavi may relax knowing he can rely on Marc Guiu’s talent.
