Pau Cubarsí will return to the Barcelona lineup for Tuesday’s Champions League match against Galatasaray, and the young defender will reunite with a very dangerous striker he’s faced once before: Victor Osimhen.
Cubarsí went head-to-head with the Nigerian striker in his European debut for Barça against Napoli when he was still 17 years old, and was named Man of the Match that night thanks in large part to his work in neutralizing Osimhen.
Two years later, Cubarsí is already one of the very best defenders
in the world and will be trusted to once again deal with one of the most powerful and lethal strikers in the game, but Cuba seems more than ready.
“We faced Osimhen a few years ago, and things may have changed. They’re a well-organized opponent, they’re playing at home, and he’s important; we’ll have to be wary of his attacks. He’s one of the best strikers in the world, and we have to stay focused so he can’t hurt us.”
Galatasaray will bring a lot of pressure and chaos early on, and will likely test Cubarsí and the rest of his backline partners with plenty of balls aimed at Osimhen, both on the ground and through the air.
Cubarsí’s ability to get the better of the matchup will certainly be one of the keys to a Barça victory in one of the toughest atmospheres in Europe.
