Lamine Yamal overcame a last-minute injury concern to secure his place in the Barcelona starting eleven for their Champions League semifinal first leg encounter against Inter Milan.
During the pre-match warm-up session at the Olympic Stadium, Yamal appeared to lose his footing while taking a shot. He subsequently left the field early, heading towards the dressing room before his teammates. Television footage showed the 17-year-old player seeming to hold his left groin or thigh, and with less than fifteen minutes remaining until kickoff, doubts began to surface regarding the young player`s ability to start the match.
Nevertheless, Yamal did indeed take the field. This appearance marked his 100th game for Barcelona, remarkably achieved more than two months before his 18th birthday. The teenager has distinguished himself as one of Europe`s premier wingers this season. Both he and Raphinha face increased pressure due to the ongoing absence of Robert Lewandowski, with Ferran Torres again occupying the central attacking role. The Barcelona starting lineup remained unchanged from the team that defeated Real Madrid in the recent Copa del Rey final.
Any suggestion that the occasion of a first Champions League semifinal might overwhelm Yamal was likely dispelled on Tuesday when he participated in the pre-match press conference ahead of the game against Inter. Regarding potential nervousness, he famously stated, “Fear while playing the game? I left all my fears in the park of my neighbourhood, back in Mataro, a while ago.”
Yamal is one of several players who have come through the Barcelona academy featuring in the semifinal starting lineup. Discussing the team`s ambition to win the trophy, he commented, “We want Barca to win and to be considered among the very best. You can feel that collective desire within our team; it`s a dream for us and significantly influences our performance this season. We remember when the club won the Champions League in 2015, and we play not just because it`s our profession, but also because we deeply feel the significance of this football club`s colors.”
Benedict Kingsley