Noah Darvich Makes Striking Debut as Starter for Barcelona B

After a prolonged wait for an opportunity, Noah Darvich made his debut as a starter this weekend against CF Fuenlabrada. The German midfielder, who had seen limited minutes in the early part of the season, got the chance to feature from the kickoff at the Estadio Fernando Torres.

In the 71 minutes he spent on the field, Darvich showcased some of the qualities that led him to FC Barcelona this past summer. The former Freiburg player, positioned as the left midfielder, enjoyed the freedom to roam different parts of the field, proving to be a player who poses a significant threat in the attacking third. In fact, on two occasions, he came close to scoring his first goal for the reserve team.

Beyond his inherent talent, Darvich also fulfilled defensive duties. The Mexican coach, unable to rely on Marc Casadó, has begun demanding greater defensive commitment from his midfielders, especially since he lacks his regular defensive midfielder, who is with Xavi Hernandez’s first team (he was called up on the same day for the match against Villarreal CF but did not play any minutes). Darvich’s performance in Fuenlabrada was crucial for Barcelona B to secure three away points. Although he didn’t finish the match, the German played a role in both favorable goals. With the lead secured, Márquez decided to give him a rest and brought in Pelayo Fernández, the Barcelona B center-back who returned to action after being sidelined for more than four months.

It’s noteworthy that Noah, until now, had not featured prominently for Barcelona B. The German had seen more playing time with Juvenil A than with the reserve team. After showcasing his potential, a change in dynamics is expected moving forward. Rafa had previously stated in a press conference that they would try to “give him more minutes” and believed he could contribute “a bit more in the second half of the season.”