Alvaro Sanz and Estanis Pedrola, two debuts made in the slow cooker

The 1-0 win over Mallorca will be a special memory for two youngsters at Barcelona. Midfielder Alvaro Sanz and winger Estanis Pedrola. They made their La Liga debuts off the bench.

Alvaro Sanz came on for the injured Nico Gonzalez. He came from Zaragoza, arriving at La Masia at Cadete age. Three times a week his parents had to go over 100km to drop him off. During the journey he had to study so that he didn’t get behind on his schoolwork. That effort has paid off.

Alvaro has not been noisy. He works in silence, season by season, gaining the respect of those around him and his coaches. Garcia Pimienta gave him games for Barca B at right back, even though he is a pivot, and Sergi Barjuan moved him to interior this season.

Estanislas came on too. He was formed at Espanyol, moving to Reus and later coming to Juvenil A last summer.