FCBARCELONA.CAT

16.05.2008 10:55

Three youngsters made the step up

Berta Brau

When Barcelona hosted Real Murcia earlier this season it was the first time that Frank Rijkaard had given a B team youngster his debut this season. Since then a total of three have tasted football at the highest level.

Pedrito made his debut for the Blaugrana first team when Murcia visited Camp Nou for the last game of the first half of the season. It was not until the 88th minute that the prospect came on to replace Samuel Eto'o.

The newcomers

The right winger's entrance gave others in the B team real hope of being able to step up to Rijkaard's squad and more have followed since that fateful day. The next player to be given the experience was Víctor Sánchez when he was called into the squad for the trip to Almería in the 28th round of games of the campaign and he came on in the final minute. Pedrito and Víctor Vázquez were also included, but did not play.

Pedrito returns

The following weekend Barça hosted Valladolid in Camp Nou and the Dutch coach again dipped into the B squad and kept Pedrito in his ranks and this time the rising star replaced Bojan Krkic with five minutes remaining of the game.

Third one in

In the match against Recreativo in week 32 of the season, Víctor Vázquez was the third and final player to be given a taste of la Primera. Having been a regular in the B team this season, Vázquez was given 13 minutes in the top flight when he went on to replace Santoi Ezquerro.

Eight overall

While only three players have actually played for Barça in the league from their B team, no fewer than eight have been in the squad and enjoyed numerous training sessions. Oier Olazábal, Víctor Espasandín, Fali, Rueda and Botia have all taken the step up, but were unable to actually make their first team debuts.