FC Barcelona have no reason to turn away from taking risks that could present huge promise in the future. For the Catalan giants, faith in youth talent remains the epitome of their philosophy and is a virtue that they continue to stand by even today in the era of blockbuster signings.
The latest starting XI released for the upcoming clash against Granada sees Barcelona give another youngster a grand opportunity. Within the XI that will take the field in Los Carmenes, a certain 20-year-old midfielder manages to catch the eye.
As highlighted by SPORT, Fermin Lopez starts for FC Barcelona. Staying true to his word, Xavi is giving opportunities to those who are deserving, rather than favoring those with more influence in the dressing room or based solely on seniority.
The 20-year-old midfielder was yet to make a start for Barcelona in an official match and will now have that wish granted. Already a highly promising talent given his performance against Real Madrid in Dallas that sparked interest in him across Europe, he will now be looking to take a definitive step as a starter in an official match.
His last major contribution came as a goal against RCD Mallorca that allowed Barcelona to draw the game with a scoreline of 2-2. His tendency to make advanced runs into dangerous positions will be something to keep an eye out for against Granada as well.
Lopez partners up with Gavi in the midfield as the two interiors, while Ilkay Gundogan plays as the sole pivot on paper. Ahead of them, Lamine Yamal, Ferran Torres, and Joao Felix start as the attackers. It is also worth noting that both Pau Victor (21-year-old) and Marc Guiu (17-year-old) are also on the bench hoping to make a name for themselves.
The defense consists of Jules Kounde, Andreas Christensen, Alejandro Balde, and Joao Cancelo. In goal, Ter Stegen makes his usual entry and with that XI, Barcelona will be hoping to take away all three points from a game where Fermin Lopez could end up having a key role.