Lamine will play his third Gamper: How was it in his other two appearances?

FC Barcelona will present its squad for the 2025/26 season this Sunday at the Johan Cruyff Stadium in the 60th edition of the Joan Gamper Trophy. The 'Azulgrana' team will face Cesc Fàbregas' team, Calcio Como, who arrive in Catalonia looking to cause an upset in the friendly match that closes the pre-season for both teams.

For the 'culés', Lamine Yamal will be the main figure of a team that has incorporated three reinforcements in the current summer market, waiting to see what happens in the last three weeks of the transfer window.

Joan García, Roony Bardghji, and Marcus Rashford will play their first matches in front of the 'culé' fans, but the player from Mataró, with the '10' on his back, will capture the main focus in his third appearance in the Gamper.

Now at 18 years old and with the mythical number on his shirt, Lamine takes on the challenge of leading the attack of a team that closed the previous season scoring 174 goals in 60 matches. So far in the pre-season, the '10' has a couple of goals and an assist in the Asian tour.

Lamine Yamal, key for Barça's comeback in 2023

Lamine Yamal, during the Joan Gamper Trophy 2023 against Tottenham (4-2)

Sunday will be Yamal's third appearance in the traditional trophy that marks the end of Barça's pre-season. The winger played his first minutes in the 2023 edition against Tottenham (4-2), a match where his magic reactivated the 'Azulgrana' attack to come back in the final stretch of the match.

The player from Rocanfonda entered in the 80th minute for Eric García and drove the 'Spurs' defense crazy with his dribbles and speed. In the first action in which he participated, the then youth player assisted Ferran Torres to score the 2-2 equalizer.

Xavi Hernández's team poured over the rival area, with Lamine causing damage on the right. In the 90th minute, the third goal arrived, scored by Ansu Fati from a pass by Ferran, while in the third minute of added time there was time for one more, scored by Ez Abde with an assist from Fermín López.

Tottenham had gone into halftime with the lead thanks to a double from Oliver Skipp. Robert Lewandowski, in the 3rd minute, put Barça ahead, with Gavi and Raphinha accompanying the Polish player in the offensive trident.

Pedri and De Jong accompanied Oriol Romeu in midfield, while Balde and Araujo were the full-backs, with Eric García and Koundé in the center of defense and Ter Stegen defending the goal.

Barça was thrashed by Monaco in the previous edition

A year later, in 2024, FC Barcelona, in Hansi Flick's presentation in Montjuïc, would be surprisingly thrashed by Monaco (0-3). After a goalless first half, the French team took the lead with goals from Lamine Camara and Breel Embolo in the first 12 minutes of the second half.

Towards the end, Christian Mawissa scored the third against a Barça team that was superior in the game, but lacking the punch that would be its main virtue throughout the 24/25 season. Lamine Yamal entered in the 68th minute for Lewandowski, but could do nothing to prevent the 'culé' defeat.

The then '19' of 'Azulgrana', however, had missed the American tour because the club gave him rest after his stellar European Championship with Spain, where he was the best young player and champion.

That day, Flick opted for Ter Stegen in goal, with Koundé and Balde as full-backs alongside Christensen and Iñigo in the center of defense. Bernal and Casadó were the midfielders, while Pau Víctor and Raphinha occupied the wings in attack, with Pablo Torre as the '10'.