Barcelona name two surprise new players for Champions League ‘A’ squad

Barcelona have opted to include B team players Gerard Martin and Unai Hernandez in their Champions League ‘A’ squad this season.

UEFA rules state that a club can have an ‘A’ team of up to 25 players, eight of whom must be ‘locally trained’. That’s not a problem for Barcelona, ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ it is the first team of the first team in La Liga with only 22 players due to the club´s financial difficulties.

The ‘B’ list is for players born on or after 1 January 2003 and who have been with the club for at least two consecutive years – or three with a maximum of one domestic loan. There are no limits on how many players can be registered per season and it can be updated daily.

Martin, who joined Barca B from Catalan club Cornella in 2023 is already the oldest in the ‘B’ list. The defender is yet to establish himself in the first team, making just one La Liga appearance so far this season, but he was born in 2002 and celebrated his 22nd birthday earlier this year.

Hernandez is only 19 and joined from Girona in 2022. He scored 10 goals from midfield in 38 games for Barca B last season and is now vice-captain of the attacking team. He never played a competitive game for the first team but was part of the senior team during the pre-season.

Barcelona have named 11 players in their ‘B’ squad ahead of the opening match against Monaco later this month. Goalkeepers Ander Astralaga and Diego Kochen, defenders Sergi Dominguez, Alexis Olmedo, Andres Cuenca and Hector Fort, midfielders Aleix Garrido, Pau Prim, Quim Junyent and striker Antonio Fernandez . Marc Bernal was called up again, despite suffering a potentially season-ending knee injury last month that still requires surgery.

Goalkeepers: Marc-Andre ter Stegen, Inaki Pena

Defenders: Pau Cubarsi, Alejandro Balde, Ronald Araujo, Inigo Martinez, Andreas Christensen, Jules Kounde, Eric Garcia, Gerard Martin.

Midfielders: Gavi, Pedri, Pablo Torre, Fermin Lopez, Marc Casado, Dani Olmo, Frenkie de Jong, Unai Hernandez.

Frontrunners: Ferran Torres, Robert Lewandowski, Ansu Fati, Raphinha, Pau Victor, Lamine Yamal.

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