Record: FC Barcelona fielded the youngest starting eleven against Betis in the last seven years

If there is something that has characterized FC Barcelona in recent seasons, it has been its wide capacity to bet on several of the young players from its academy, La Masia, and make them an important part of its sports project. These footballers are not only recurrent in the starting eleven but also enjoy a highly interesting share of protagonism, something that is hard to see in other clubs of similar level to the Catalan team, which competes at the highest level and is a global reference.

In this sense, Barcelona achieved an important milestone in the round of 16 match of the 2024-25 Copa del Rey against Real Betis, where they secured victory with a resounding 5-1. This 'manita' from the culés was not only highlighted by the tactical proposal put forth by Hansi Flick, but also by the youth of the players who participated in the match.

Barcelona fielded the youngest starting eleven in the last seven years

The FC Barcelona faced Real Betis with a starting eleven that presented the youngest average age of the 2024-25 season, at just 23 years and 277 days. Moreover, this marks the youngest starting lineup positioned on the pitch in the last seven years, as the culé club had not fielded such a young team since 2018.

On that occasion, on October 31, 2018, Barcelona played against Cultural Leonesa (0-1) in the Copa del Rey. That starting eleven had an average age of 23 years and 173 days.

The absences of Iñigo, Lewandowski, and Szczęsny, 'keys' to achieving this record

It is worth noting that Barcelona was able to field such a young eleven against Betis thanks to the absence of several veteran players in the squad, such as Iñigo Martínez (33 years), Robert Lewandowski (36 years), and Wojciech Szczęsny (34 years), who could not participate in this match due to injury, the need for rest, and suspension, respectively.

In the starting eleven for Barcelona against Real Betis, the oldest player was Raphinha, at 28 years old, followed by culé assets like Frenkie de Jong, at 27 years, and Dani Olmo with 26 years. These players contributed 'veteran presence' to a team full of 'youngsters' with a promising future, thus consolidating the concept of 'Baby Barça'.

The ages of the starting players of FC Barcelona in the match against Real Betis, in detail:

• (#13). Iñaki Peña - 25 years
• (#23). Jules Koundé - 26 years
• (#4). Ronald Araujo - 25 years
• (#2). Pau Cubarsí - 17 years
• (#35). Gerard Martín - 22 years
• (#21). Frenkie de Jong - 27 years
• (#8). Pedri González - 22 years
• (#6). Gavi - 20 years
• (#19). Lamine Yamal - 17 years
• (#20). Dani Olmo - 26 years
• (#11). Raphinha - 28 years

What is the starting eleven with the lowest average age in Barça's history?

However, it is interesting to note that this starting eleven is far from being the youngest in history of FC Barcelona. According to records from 'Transfermarkt', the youngest eleven fielded in an official match by the azulgrana dates back to Sunday, September 9, 1984, when the Barcelona team faced Real Zaragoza in LaLiga, with a starting lineup whose average age was 20.7 years. That match, which took place at Camp Nou, ended with a 4-0 victory for the blaugranas.