Hansi Flick sets record with historic lineup for Barcelona at Spotify Camp Nou | OneFootball

Barcelona’s return to Spotify Camp Nou after a gap of over 900 days was nothing short of spectacular. 

The Catalan giants capped the momentous occasion with a dominant 4-0 victory over Athletic Club, sending fans into a frenzy and reaffirming their identity rooted in homegrown talent. 

While the performance itself was widely praised, Mundo Deportivo has highlighted a fascinating record from this historic match.

A new record for Hansi Flick

It is well known that Barcelona heavily relies on its famed youth academy, La Masia, to produce world-class talent. 

Yet, what went largely unnoticed until now is that yesterday’s fixture marked the first time since 1970 that Barça fielded seven players born in Catalonia in the starting XI. 

Barcelona matched a 55-year-old record. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)

Notably, Hansi Flick chose to start Joan Garcia, Alejandro Balde, Pau Cubarsi, Lamine Yamal, Gerard Martin, Dani Olmo, and Eric Garcia. 

To put this in perspective, the last time seven Catalans started a match was on December 6, 1970, against Sporting de Gijon at Camp Nou.

The German manager’s commitment to homegrown talent did not stop there. In total, nine Catalan players featured in the match after Marc Casado and Marc Bernal were introduced in the second half. 

Remarkably, the precedent for nine Catalans playing in a single match dates all the way back to October 31, 1937. 

Amidst the turmoil of the Spanish Civil War, Barcelona faced Espanyol, securing a 9-1 win with a fully Catalan lineup, a record that had stood for 88 years until yesterday.

Credit where it is due – Flick’s decision to select local talent not only celebrates Barcelona’s rich footballing heritage but also signals a renewed emphasis on nurturing homegrown stars.