Nothing has changed after a very intense summer for Lamine Yamal. The player from Mataró, now with the '10' on his back and 18 years old, continues to do his thing: demonstrating on the field, match after match, why he is currently the best footballer on the planet.
On Saturday, in Mallorca, FC Barcelona added their first three points of the season with a comfortable victory (0-3) thanks to the '10'. For the first time since his debut in the elite, the winger was able to score on matchday 1 of LaLiga, in this case scoring a goal that served to close the result.
Lamine made it 0-3 in the 90+4' with his characteristic medium-distance shot. When the player from Rocafonda receives on the right and hooks towards his left, everyone knows that he will look for a place to set up the shot. However, no one can prevent the forward from doing what he wants.
'Crack' records: an authentic '10' debut for Lamine
Before scoring what was his 15th goal in 74 La Liga matches with Barça, Yamal had given his first assist of the season. The winger enabled Raphinha in the 7th minute with a cross pass, at medium height, but directly to the Brazilian's head.
Against teams like Mallorca, who accumulate men in the opponent's half and gain order and confidence as the minutes pass, keeping a clean sheet, it is key to get ahead early. And, thanks to Lamine, Barça quickly headed towards a comfortable victory.
Too comfortable, yes, for the perspective of a Hansi Flick who always asks more from his players. Except, of course, for the '10', who for now does not need 'touches' of any kind to constantly face the rival half and look for the opposite area.
In Mallorca, however, the winger had a lapse in the second half where he participated little in the game. Contagious, perhaps, by the lethargy of a team that was going at half speed, knowing they were winners and without wanting to make firewood from the fallen tree. Mallorca, with nine men and two goals down at halftime, had given up since the 39th minute.
But Jan Salas wanted to challenge Yamal in added time, confronting him after a foul on the sideline that had nothing to complain about. Well, the Mallorca defender challenged the '10' and he responded with a great goal before the end. A show of character, always necessary for footballers who always receive many more kicks than they give.
Lamine Yamal's numbers against Mallorca:
- Minutes played: 90
- Goals: 1
- Assists: 1
- Opportunities created:
- Dribbles: 6 of 9 (79%)
- Shots: 9 (3 on goal)
- Duels won: 9 of 16 (56%)
- Passes completed: 32 of 41 (78%)
- Balls recovered: 7
- Balls lost: 1