Lamine Yamal’s fighting words ahead of Barcelona’s Champions League meeting with Paris Saint-Germain were not taken too kindly by the visitors at Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys on Wednesday night – with several of the players keen to put the Spanish starlet in his place after beating the hosts 2-1.
Hansi Flick’s men had been enjoying a strong start to their European campaign.
In their opening tie, Barcelona trounced Newcastle 2-0 at St James’ Park courtesy of two impressive goals from loanee Marcus Rashford.
But Wednesday evening marked Yamal’s first match in the competition this season, after he was forced to miss the trip to Tyneside two weeks ago due to injury.
The 18-year-old showed he was keen to get back into top-flight action, laying down the gauntlet to his opponents on the night with two punchy messages on his Instagram Stories.
The first showed a picture of the player in his Spain kit emblazoned with the statement: ‘Pressure?’
The next was a simple text image showing the badges of the two clubs, with the caption: ‘I’m back and the mission is also back’.
Unfortunately for Yamal however, his prophecy was unable to come true.
The hosts were able to draw first blood within 20 minutes thanks to a goal from Ferran Torres, but they were pinned back in the 38th minute by Senny Mayulu’s equaliser.
The match was squared for most of the contest, but Goncalo Ramos stole all three points for the Parisian side at the last to ensure that Barcelona left empty-handed.
Yamal later deleted the Stories, but the damage was done, with team-mate Pedri only adding fuel to the fire with his own pre-match comment stating that Barcelona were ‘the best’ team in Europe – despite PSG being the current Champions League winners.
Goalscorer Ramos noted the Barca starlets’ comments after the match, stressing: ‘We’re the Champions League winners, that’s all I can say.
‘If you’re the best, you have to show it on the pitch, not just talk.’
His team-mate Vitinha similarly seemed incensed by the noise pre-match, noting that although it didn’t affect the group, there was some wisdom to keeping quiet before a crunch clash.
‘That happens sometimes. There are often statements before games, and that can happen,’ Vitinha added.
‘We don’t care. We just want to play the game; we won, and we’re happy about it.’
More concerned by developments however were the Spanish press, with a number of outlets critical about how Yamal had gone about preparing for the fixture.
Radio Marca underscored how Yamal had not won the Ballon d’Or – despite coming second in the ballot – or the Champions League, and suggested that he ‘shouldn’t consider himself a star already.’
AS added their words to the swirl of controversy, pointing out that he remained a teenage work in progress, for all of his raw talent.
‘After a great first-half, distributing passes and assists like there was no tomorrow, he faded away in the second-half, with clumsy play and no ideas,’ the report read.
‘It’s clear he still has a lot to improve if he wants to lift the Ballon d’Or next year.’
Away from Europe, Yamal has enjoyed a stop-start to the season after being kept out of recent ties with a groin injury.
However, despite lingering concerns, the forward has still managed to score two and register a further three assists in his three LaLiga appearances.
