Within the face of unrelenting, undiluted reward, Barcelona supervisor Hansi Flick challenged Lamine Yamal to “maintain going”.
The teenage starlet definitely took that recommendation when it got here to his one-on-one duels with Inter left wing-back Federico Dimarco throughout Wednesday’s Champions League semi-final first leg. Undeterred by falling behind to a pair of early objectives, Yamal bent in a shocking strike as Barcelona twice got here from behind to battle out a mesmeric 3-3 draw.
Marcus Thuram scored the quickest semi-final purpose in Champions League historical past, Denzel Dumfries speared in a scissor kick and Raphinha surpassed one other staggering milestone, but the night time belonged to the blonde-haired 17-year-old.
Inter supervisor Simone Inzaghi, handled to his first sight of Yamal within the flesh, dubbed him “a phenomenon born each 50 years”.
“We may even have gained this sport towards a crew who’ve a participant who’s tough to cease,” Inzaghi shrugged. “We began effectively, however they created a variety of issues: he created a variety of issues. He’s a participant I had not seen dwell earlier than. We needed to double up on him.”
17 years outdated and lighting up a Champions League semi-final…
Barcelona know the right way to produce left-footed surprise youngsters! 😍 pic.twitter.com/fMeNiljPd5
— 90min (@90min_Football) April 30, 2025
The admiration wasn’t restricted to these within the stadium. Manchester United ahead Alejandro Garnacho hailed Yamal because the “finest participant on the planet” whereas his Manchester Metropolis counterpart, Erling Haaland, took to social media to coo: “This man is unbelievable.”
Flick did his finest to quell the swell of reward lavished upon his teenage prodigy. “At 17 years outdated, he is an unbelievable participant and for me the essential factor is he retains going,” the Barcelona boss insisted, earlier than shortly giving into the hyperbole himself.
“I believe he is particular. I stated it, usually earlier than, he is a genius,” Flick grinned. “He was so essential for us within the first half. He created a variety of issues and scored the primary purpose. You understand, I do know, everybody is aware of, and after at present, that he’s a unbelievable participant.
“He does it at all times within the large video games. Within the large matches just like the semi-final at present, he reveals how good he’s. That is what we would like and want from him. He is at all times there. He has to take pleasure in it too. I’m actually comfortable that this expertise who comes each 50 years performs for Barcelona.”
Yamal, for his half, is not getting carried away simply but. “I attempt to take pleasure in myself, I believe that is the key,” he advised CBS Sports activities after turning into the youngest semi-final goalscorer in Champions League historical past. “I do not take into consideration something and simply play the soccer I’ve and take a look at to ensure individuals take pleasure in watching a sport. I have never completed something but; I’ve lots to do, and I hope it continues like this.”
