With their first goals with FC Barcelona’s first team—a team that has a particular place in their hearts and has been passed down through their families for generations—Gerard Martín and Marc Casadó had a wonderful day against Real Sociedad.
Barça Atlètic suffered a devastating 2-1 loss at the Estadio Nuevo Arcángel on June 23, 2024, just missing promotion to Segunda A. With more than 21,000 fans packed into the stands of this ancient site, Rafa Márquez’s youthful and gifted team found themselves on the bitter end of football’s emotional rollercoaster following an outstanding season.
The Barça B team’s players fell to the ground in anguish as the final whistle blew. The goal painfully slipped out of their grasp after a hard 10-month competition. Two prominent members of this promising group under their Mexican coach, Gerard Martín and Marc Casadó, were among those left heartbroken on the field.
The Barça community was moved to tears when they saw the left-back from Sant Andreu de la Barca and the midfielder from Sant Pere de Vilamajor cheering the fans, relatives, and friends who had come to southern Spain. It felt deeply personal to them; it wasn’t just a poor day at work.
The days after that crucial game were difficult. As they struggled with the disappointment of a season that held so much promise but ended tragically, both athletes turned to their families. Together with other Barça Atlètic players, Gerard and Marc made a quick trip to Ibiza a few weeks later to unwind and rejuvenate after becoming friends through their shared experiences over those months.
Hansi Flick asked them to join training sessions with the first team, so they didn’t have much time to relax. Their recent loss was less painful as a result of this development. In the end, both players were able to win their spots in the German coach’s plans, realizing their boyhood aspirations of playing for the team they used to support alongside their parents and grandparents.
Their odyssey reached its climax on March 2. Gerard and Marc both scored their first goals for the first team almost eight months after that fateful day in Córdoba. Surprisingly, neither had scored with the backup team. They celebrated by kissing the club crest, which was a very sincere gesture, and their excitement was evident.
“In fact, I hadn’t scored for three and a half years. I still can’t believe it,” Gerard told source. It was a wonderful birthday present, as he had just turned 23 a few days prior. On the other hand, Casadó’s last goal had come in 2022 during a resounding 1-6 victory against UD Montecarlo while playing for the Juvenil A team. These are the heartwarming stories that unfold within a club rich with homegrown talent, where players are living the dream of defending the badge they supported as children.
