Born in L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Catalonia, Barbarà made his senior debuts with local amateurs UE Sants.
In the 1986 off-season he moved to La Liga with CE Sabadell FC, playing his first game in the competition on 17 December 1986 in a 1–1 home draw against Real Betis where he came on as a 72nd-minute substitute;[1] his first goal arrived the following 17 May, helping the hosts defeat Cádiz CF 2–0.
He scored 13 goals in his second season, helping the Castile and León club promote to the top level after a 12-year absence.
[3] He subsequently served as FC Barcelona B's scout during Pep Guardiola's spell, and in 2008 was appointed as the reserves' assistant manager.
[4] Barbarà acted as both Luis Enrique and Eusebio Sacristán's assistant and, after the appointment of the former to the main squad in 2014, he was hired as auxiliary coach.