Belletti's team once again delivered a masterclass against Cornellà with a resounding 4-0 victory. A three-minute brace from the top scorer, Hugo Alba, set the course for a match that was complicated until the 38th minute. Barça Closes a Fantastic Week after securing a spot in the Youth League quarterfinals last Tuesday by defeating Aston Villa 1-3 at Villa Park.
A Team and a Goal Scorer on a Roll
With this triumph, the culé team extends their lead to seven points at the top of the standings, with six rounds remaining. Undoubtedly a step forward in the goal of achieving the treble League, Cup, and Youth League. The next obstacle will be Betis, this Thursday, in the semifinal of the Copa del Rey Juvenil.
While the success of JulianoBelletti's team is not due to a single player, their forward and captain deserves much praise. Hugo has taken the entire offense on his shoulders, and with his two goals against Cornellà, he has already reached 20 goals in all competitions this season. He has scored 9 goals in the last 8 matches for the 18-year-old striker from Petrer.
Breakout Season
Hugo joined Barça in the summer of 2019 from Elche. He quickly adapted to Infantil A, completing a magnificent debut season. He continued with good performances, and in the 2021-22 season, he jumped to Juvenil B without going through Cadete A.
This leap caused him to face defenders up to three years older than him, thus losing the good numbers he had been achieving. From day one, Belletti has placed confidence in him, making him captain and starting him in 24 of the 31 matches he has played.
Hugo is one of those forwards from the new school. Standing 5 ft. 10 in. (1.78 meters) tall, his speed, quality in tight spaces, and movements into space stand out as his strongest points. In fact, he likes to drift wide to receive the ball and move away from the area when facing a bulky defender.
With his contract ending this summer, Barça must act quickly if they don't want to lose one of their gems. According to Relevo, his camp states that the player has earned Belletti's trust and that his desire is to renew.