Barcelona dressing room amazed by the ‘New Philipp Lahm’ | OneFootball

Barcelona youth prospect Xavi Espart experienced a memorable night as he made his first-team debut during Barcelona’s 1-1 draw against Newcastle United in the UEFA Champions League round of 16 first leg.

The young full-back was introduced late in the match at St James’ Park, stepping onto the pitch during one of the most delicate moments of the game. 

Newcastle had just taken the lead and the stadium was at full volume, creating intense pressure for the visiting side.

Despite the difficult situation, Espart showed impressive maturity for a player making his debut on such a big stage. 

With Barcelona trying to avoid further problems after conceding, the young defender remained calm and composed.

Lahm comparisons

The positive reaction continued after the match as Espart shared a message on social media reflecting on his special night with the senior team.

Soon after, several Barcelona players responded publicly to celebrate the youngster’s achievement. Among them was fellow academy graduate Marc Bernal, who made a notable comparison while praising Espart’s style of play.

Bernal referred to the young full-back as “Philipp”, a nickname that links him to legendary German defender Philipp Lahm.

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The comparison is not random, as Barcelona manager Hansi Flick previously compared Espart’s style to Lahm, highlighting similarities in the way the young defender reads the game and supports both defence and attack.

Other teammates also joined in to congratulate Espart following his debut. Midfielder Fermin Lopez wrote a simple but heartfelt message on social media.

‘Congratulations, champ,’ he wrote.

Several players with strong connections to Barcelona’s academy also celebrated the moment. 

Former Barça striker Marc Guiu, as well as young talents Tommy Marques and Diego Kochen, shared messages applauding Espart for reaching such an important milestone.

As such, the nickname “Philipp” continues to gain attention among Barcelona supporters. 

Lahm was widely known for his intelligence, tactical awareness and ability to contribute on both sides of the pitch, traits that coaches believe Espart could develop in the future.