Ansu Fati and Riqui Puig push for Champions League selection

With LaLiga Santander over and done with, the Champions League is what motivates the Barcelona dressing room now.

Everyone wants to be involved as the competition nears its return in August and the youngsters at the club are staking their claim for selection.

Ansu Fati and Riqui Puig were two of the key men as Barcelona thrashed Alaves 5-0 at Mendizorroza on Sunday.

The former opened the scoring for the visitors, while the latter provided two assists during the game.

The pair remained in the first-team squad, despite their Barcelona B teammates' involvement in the Segunda B play-offs at the weekend.

Quique Setien's decision to give them more game time in recent weeks has been well received and now the two academy graduates are competing for a starting place in the Champions League.

Ansu forces his way into the front three

The 17-year-old has scored a total of eight goals, seven in LaLiga Santander and one in the Champions League, in his debut season in the first team.

Those are better numbers than what Lionel Messi produced at the same age.

Back then, the Argentine learned from one of the best in the world in Ronaldinho, with Ansu Fati now doing the same with his captain.

The Spain under-21 international links up well with his attacking teammates and, with Antoine Griezmann struggling for fitness, he's a shoo-in in the front three at the moment.