Night of debuts in the Czech Republic
Iñaki Peña became the 195th 'Made in la Masia' debutant for FC Barcelona on Tuesday night in Plzen. Ten years after entering the famous Barça youth system at the age of 13, against Viktoria he stood in for the rested Ter Stegen to make his first appearance for the club.
It wasn't Peña's first Champions League experience though. The goalkeeper featured last season on loan to Galatasaray, even getting to play against his boyhood team. In 90 minutes on the field, he performed excellently, with particularly fine saves to deny Lukás Kalvach's potential equaliser on the half hour, and another top piece of work against Vlkanova shortly before the Czechs did indeed make it 3-2.
It was also official debut night for Marc Casadó, who came on for the injured Kessie after 67 minutes. The 19-year-old from Barça Atlètic has played seven games in Primera RFEF this season as well as a couple in the UEFA Youth League.
It was also a memorable evening for Álvaro Sanz, who wasn't making his official debut but was playing in the Champions League for the first time. The Barça Atlètic player replaced the injured Pablo Torre after 77 minutes.
First start for Pablo Torre
Pablo Torre, scorer of the final goal in Plzen, has already featured in both La Liga and the Champions League this season, but this was the first time he was in the starting XI.
Torre's goal at the age of just 19 years and 212 days makes him the second youngest FC Barcelona player to score in his first Champions League start, topped only by Giovani dos Santos.