Teenage debutant Marc Guiu said he would not be able to sleep after snatching champions Barcelona a 1-0 win over Athletic Bilbao just seconds after coming on from the bench on Sunday in La Liga, taking the Catalans up to third.
Xavi Hernandez’s Barca are to face leaders Real Madrid on Saturday in El Clasico just one point behind their bitter rivals, and second-placed Girona, who beat Almeria 5-2 earlier on.
For a long time it seemed like Barcelona would not find the breakthrough against their Basque visitors, but striker Guiu, 17, netted under a minute after being thrown on by Xavi.
Photo: AFP
The forward was slipped in by the silky Joao Felix and slotted past Unai Simon, who got a hand to his shot, but could not keep it out.
“Tonight I won’t sleep,” Guiu told DAZN. “I can’t believe it. I can barely breathe. I’m enjoying the moment.”
Guiu became the latest on a conveyor belt of young players to make their debuts for Barca as their La Masia de Can Planes academy continues to produce gems.
“It surprises me that they aren’t scared. I see them with a spark, they look at me with a face saying: ‘Put me on, you’ll see that it will go well,’” Xavi said. “I saw that with Gavi, [Alejandro] Balde, Lamine [Yamal], Fermin [Lopez] and with Marc. He doesn’t look afraid.”
Xavi brought on Guiu in the 79th minute and with his first touch he broke into the area and then with another confidently fired past Simon.
“It’s the best day of his life, surely,” Xavi said.
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