Lamine Yamal, the 17-year-old Barcelona sensation, has declared that his team does not share the same fear of Real Madrid that grips other clubs. Following an electrifying 4-3 comeback win in El Clásico, Lamine Yamal told OpitanglobaMedia Football that the Catalans approached the match with supreme confidence. The result moved Barcelona seven points clear of Madrid at the top of LaLiga with only three games remaining.
“It doesn’t feel good when Madrid beat you,” Lamine Yamal admitted. “It’s true we didn’t beat them last year—we suffered. But this year, we gave everything to turn it around. We don’t have that fear of them that maybe other teams have. We feel like we’re better than every other team, that’s the mentality we go out with.”
The teenager’s comments underscore a psychological shift within the Barça dressing room under coach Hansi Flick. The club, once humbled by three consecutive Clásico losses last season, has now won all four meetings against Madrid this campaign—twice in LaLiga, and once each in the Spanish Supercopa and Copa del Rey finals.
A Teenage Star on the Rise: From Goals to Shirt Swaps
Lamine Yamal was pivotal in the latest Clásico triumph, netting Barcelona’s second goal in a match that will be remembered for its thrilling twists. After conceding two early goals from Kylian Mbappé, Barça roared back, with Yamal playing a mature and confident role well beyond his years. His poise caught the attention of Flick, who remarked post-match: “Believe me, he’s definitely not a kid.”
Adding a personal touch to the memorable night, Lamine Yamal also fulfilled a promise he had made to former Barça legend Thierry Henry. During a previous interview, Henry requested Lamine Yamal’s shirt, and the youngster agreed to a swap. True to his word, the teenager exchanged jerseys with the Frenchman, who joined the club in 2007—the same year Yamal was born.
The symbolic moment not only highlighted the continuity of Barça’s footballing lineage but also cemented Yamal’s place as one of the most exciting prospects in European football today.
Barcelona’s Grit: Comeback Kings of the Season
Despite their attacking flair, Barça have displayed a worrying trend of conceding early goals—a pattern that was evident once again in the Clásico. However, what sets them apart this season is their resilience. The team has now come from two goals behind in seven matches, including recent encounters with Inter Milan, Celta Vigo, and Real Madrid.
Forward Dani Olmo reflected on this trend, acknowledging both the strength and the weakness it represents. “At the end, we need to control it a little bit more, the first minutes, because in the last games we concede a lot of goals,” he told OpitanglobaMedia Football. “We know our power in offence, but sometimes we need to control more this situation better.”
Olmo emphasized the team’s faith in their attacking capabilities, but admitted that the habit of chasing games is unsustainable long term. Still, the Clásico win was crucial and potentially decisive in sealing the league title.
Title Within Reach: Barça Close In on LaLiga Glory
Barcelona’s seven-point lead over Madrid puts them on the verge of winning the LaLiga title. The Catalans could mathematically secure the trophy as early as Wednesday if Madrid slip up against Mallorca. Alternatively, Barça can claim the title outright with a win on Thursday against local rivals Espanyol.
The momentum and belief surging through the squad, coupled with Flick’s tactical nous and Lamine Yamal’s explosive form, have made Barça the undisputed frontrunners. Having triumphed in every major clash this season, including domestic finals, Barcelona’s path to glory appears all but assured.
Coach Flick has not only restored Barcelona’s competitive edge but also inspired a winning culture in which young players like Lamine Yamal thrive. The mood within the camp is buoyant, as the team prepares to close out the season with purpose and precision.
Szczęsny’s Dilemma: Contract Extension or Retirement?
In a related development, veteran goalkeeper Wojciech Szczęsny confirmed that he has been offered a two-year contract extension by Barcelona, with his current deal expiring this summer. Szczęsny, who initially came out of retirement to fill in for the injured Marc-André ter Stegen, has been a reliable presence between the sticks during critical phases of the season.
“I won’t hide that I have an offer to stay at Barça for two more years,” Szczęsny told Canal Plus. “I have asked for time to think about it. I need to make the decision with my family based on what’s best for us.”
Szczęsny admitted that his partner plays a central role in life decisions and that their original plan was to spend a year in Barcelona and then retire. However, the extension offer has made the future uncertain. For now, he remains a valuable asset to the squad and could yet play a role in Barcelona’s next chapter—if he chooses to stay.
As the title looms and the club prepares for celebrations, all eyes are on the youthful brilliance of Lamine Lamine Yamal and the decisions of seasoned pros like Szczęsny, both of whom reflect the past and the future of FC Barcelona.
