Juvenil A, Two Steps Away From the Cup Winners Title After Beating Las Palmas

Juvenil A, two steps away from the cup title after beating Las Palmas

A hard-fought victory against the Canaries that qualifies them for the Final Four of the Copa del Rey.

The Juvenil A of Fútbol Club Barcelona has shown remarkable resilience and the ability to overcome adversity. After a painful elimination in the Youth League at the hands of Maccabi Haifa, where luck in the penalty shootout eluded them despite a superior performance, the team has not wasted time regretting.

Just a few days after that European setback, Pol Planas's pupils demonstrated their character by convincingly beating Espanyol at the Dani Jarque, with a score of 1 to 4. The streak of good feelings has continued, and yesterday, the calendar presented them with a new challenge: a decisive duel against Las Palmas to seal their place in the coveted Final Four of the Copa del Rey.

The match, played in an atmosphere of expectation, was resolved with a solitary goal that tipped the balance in favor of the Blaugranas. Although the final score reflected a brief 1-0, the match was marked by quality football and a clear superiority on the part of the Catalans, who once again demonstrated their ambition to win all possible titles.

The coach, Pol Planas, analyzed the team's mentality after the victory and the management of emotions in crucial moments. “Management is about being natural,” he explained in the mixed zone. “I remember some statements from a coach who said: if you are bad, be bad. We can afford it 24 hours. But the past has to be used to learn and we have to look forward.”

Planas underlined the winning mentality inherent in any Barcelona player. “The Barça footballer always has to have the intention of winning everything,” he stated. “Today I have seen some moments with the 1-0 that the team has known how to manage that the other day it did not know how to manage. It is a good lesson to have fallen in the Youth League if it helps the footballer to prepare for the elite.”

The goal that sealed the victory and the place in the semifinals came from the hand of Pedro Villar, a goal that allows Barcelona to dream of the first title of the season. The Copa del Rey semifinals are scheduled for March 10 or 11, where Juvenil A will face Depor. The other semi-final will be between Celta and Real Betis, the latter being the last executioners of Real Madrid in their fiefdom of Valdebebas.

With this victory, Juvenil A is just two games away from lifting the cup trophy. Their good moment is not limited to this competition, since in the domestic league, the Planas team leads alone. They are four points ahead of Espanyol, having already played both direct matches. Winning the league title would grant Barcelona access to the Champions Cup, the only tournament that eluded them last season.

In addition to the joy of progressing to the semifinals, the day also brought with it excellent news with the return to the discipline of the team of Iker Rodríguez, a young 17-year-old goalkeeper considered one of the great projects of the quarry. In defense, the performances of the imperial Baba Kourouma and the versatile Guillem Víctor stood out.

Guillem Víctor, Pau's brother, has demonstrated his adaptability by playing as a center back in the last two games, despite the fact that his usual position is the right back, having also played roles on the left wing and even as a winger. “I don't care where they put me,” he declared after the game, evidencing his commitment and versatility.

The Juvenil A squad, however, is not without setbacks. Hafiz Gariba is injured after an accident in the Youth League, wearing a splint on his right knee. On the other hand, Àlex Campos is in the reserve team's dynamics, which shows the fluidity and interconnection between the different levels of the club.

The needs of Barça Atlètic and, sometimes, the first team, influence the availability of Juvenil A players. Key players on the offensive side such as Sama Nomoko and Uri Pallàs also watched the match from the stands. Despite these circumstances, the Barça team is pursuing the treble, always keeping the main objective on the horizon.

“The boys are training to be prepared when they are called from above,” stated Planas, making clear the training and preparation purpose for the elite that governs the Blaugrana quarry.