Barcelona teenager Pau Cubarsi branded a 'star of the future' and compared to Ronald Koeman

Pau Cubarsi was branded a "star of the future" by TNT Sports expert Owen Hargreaves after helping Barcelona progress to the quarter-final of the UEFA Champions League with victory over Napoli.

Early goals from Fermin Lopez and Joao Cancelo saw the hosts take control of the round-of-16 second leg at the Estadi Olimpic.

Amir Rrahmani gave Napoli hope in the 30th minute, but Robert Lewandowski’s goal 10 minutes from time secured the victory for Barcelona.

Despite relying on veteran talent to shore up the lead, Barcelona manager Xavi Hernandez would have been pleased with his young stars who started the match.

Hargreaves and fellow TNT Sports expert Glenn Hoddle were full of praise for 16-year-old winger Lamine Yamal, as well as 17-year-old centre back Cubarsi.

The latter became the youngest ever defender to feature in a Champions League knockout match, and made 68 more passes than any of his team-mates in a calm and assured player of the match performance.

"Incredible, incredible performance, that," Hoddle enthused. "We watched him all night, I'm so impressed with him. His defensive work… it’s just top quality. It’s like Ronald Koeman at his best, hitting passes like that. Incredible for 17."

Hargreaves also showered Cubarsi with plaudits, making his own comparisons with Barcelona legends Carles Puyol and Gerard Pique.

"This kid was picking out passes for fun," he said. "He made look so easy. It was physical when he needed to be.

"For a Spanish centre-back to be this physical, against somebody like [Napoli’s Victor] Osimhen is quite rare.

Hargreaves added: "I mean, he's 17 and this is his first start. He played ridiculously good, that is a star now, a star of the future.

"He’s obviously completely different from Puyol, Pique was brilliant, but I think his long range passing is better than any of those. By far.

"I mean, he's unique. I think he's very special. For a 17-year-old to play like that in a knockout game is rare."

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