Dro Fernandez Makes First La Liga Start for Barcelona

Spanish football had a new storyline unfold this weekend as 17-year-old Dro Fernandez earned his first-ever start for FC Barcelona in La Liga against Real Sociedad. The young midfielder, who has been steadily rising through the club’s ranks, finally got the nod to feature in the starting XI, marking a significant milestone in his career.

Stationed in the attacking midfield role, Fernandez put in a decent shift, linking up well with Roony Bardghji and providing Barcelona with creativity going forward. He managed to carve out a few chances himself, showing flashes of his attacking instincts and composure on the ball.

With the score locked at 1–1, Fernandez was replaced at the start of the second half by seasoned campaigner Dani Olmo. The substitution was seen as more tactical than performance-based, with Barcelona turning to experience to close out the match. Ultimately, the move paid off as Barcelona secured a 2–1 victory over Real Sociedad.

For Fernandez, it was more than just minutes on the pitch—it was a statement that he belongs at the top level. For the club, it was another sign of their continued trust in youth, as Fernandez joins a long line of La Masia talents breaking into the senior team.

Though just the first of what could be many starts, Fernandez’s debut has already sparked excitement among supporters eager to see how he develops in the iconic Barcelona shirt. The Spain-born midfielder with Filipino descent has yet to decide which country he will represent internationally. One thing is certain—he is among the brightest stars with Filipino roots. The question now is: are we going to see him put on a Philippine jersey one day?

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