Barcelona prodigy raises eyebrows with his performance vs Chelsea in UEFA Youth League
While Tuesday night at Stamford Bridge ended in a dismal 3-0 defeat for Hansi Flick’s senior side, the afternoon provided a necessary silver lining for the Blaugrana.Pol Planas’ Juvenil A side man...
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![](/<figure><img alt="Barcelona prodigy raises eyebrows with his performance vs Chelsea in UEFA Youth League" src="https://blackamericans.com/images/joomgrabber/2025-11/5de3812c97.jpeg" data-uuid="35a5b5bd-b221-3eb2-b5bb-9bea0afdb10b"><figcaption>Barcelona prodigy raises eyebrows with his performance vs Chelsea in UEFA Youth League</figcaption></figure><p>While Tuesday night at Stamford Bridge ended in a dismal 3-0 defeat for Hansi Flick’s senior side, the afternoon provided a necessary silver lining for the <em>Blaugrana</em>.</p><p>Pol Planas’ <em>Juvenil A</em> side managed to secure a valuable point against Chelsea in the UEFA Youth League, recovering from a shaky first half to dominate the second. </p><p>While the <em>Blaugrana </em>were unlucky to concede a late equaliser, it was Hafiz Gariba who stole the show with an exemplary performance in defence.</p><h2>Who is Hafiz Gariba?</h2><p>Arriving in Catalonia from Ghana, he was playing for Codolar in the <em>Quarta Catalana</em> – the lowest tier of Catalan football – until February of this year. </p><p>Once he turned 18, Barcelona swooped in. In just a few months, he has jumped from amateur fields to the <em>Ciutat Esportiva</em> and now, to European competition.</p><img height="0" src="https://blackamericans.com/images/joomgrabber/2025-11/3265345373.jpeg" width="2048" data-uuid="27ad11e4-fc1f-3dbd-85cb-a4b108901e47"><p>Barcelona must keep a close eye on Hafiz Gariba’s progress at La Masia. (Photo by Stuart Franklin/Getty Images)</p><p>Affectionately nicknamed ‘The Mantis’ by his teammates due to his frame, Gariba was a colossus against Chelsea, reports <a href="https://www.mundodeportivo.com/futbol/fc-barcelona/20251126/1002576460/mantis-hafiz-gariba-comienza-volar.html" target="_blank"><em>Mundo Deportivo</em></a>.</p><p>The 18-year-old offers a profile rarely seen in traditional <em>La Masia</em> defenders. Tall and dominant in the air, he combines physical strength with a surprisingly soft touch.</p><p>What sets him apart, however, is his fearlessness. Gariba plays with an almost complete lack of awareness of danger. </p><p>The youngster takes risks on the ball that most defenders avoid, constantly looking to thread vertical passes and create advantages rather than choosing the safe option.</p><p>At Barcelona, they rate Gariba quite highly, and a report earlier this month suggested that the club see the <em>La Masia</em> starlet as the <a href="https://barcauniversal.com/barcelona-believe-la-masia-talent-has-a-real-chance-of-breaking-into-the-first-team/" target="_blank">next potential breakthrough</a> material, which is not surprising given his immense potential.</p><p>If the youngster keeps performing as he did against Chelsea, it will not be long before he catches Hansi Flick’s eye.</p>)