Lamine Yamal continues in superstar mode with FC Barcelona in 2024/25. In the rout of Villarreal (1-5), the winger gave another recital at El Madrigal, with a penalty created (missed by Robert Lewandowski) and an assist to Raphinha with an exquisite long pass with his left boot that allowed Barça to close out a difficult day where, despite the result and the lead in the League, the bitter feeling remained due to Ter Stegen's serious injury.
With his assist at El Madrigal, the youngster reached 5 assists in the tournament, in addition to participating in 8 of the 22 goals scored by Barça in the first 6 league games. In a season in which there was so much talk about Real Madrid's 'BMV' with Bellingham, Mbappé and Vinicius, the trident made up of Raphinha, Lamine and Lewandowski is making the difference for the undisputed Barça leadership. On Sunday, the Esplugues de Llobregat native completed 31 of 39 passes (79%), with one shot on goal and 50% effectiveness in individual duels (5 won and 5 lost).
Hansi Flick defends Lamine Yamal for Villarreal's 'rudeness'
In the final stretch of the match, with the rout already complete, several Villarreal players gave in to impotence and took it out on Lamine, who was always unbalanced with the ball. Sergi Cardona and Ilias Akhomach made ugly tackles on the '19' that could well have deserved a red card, but the main Busquets Ferrer resolved with yellow cards for each player of the 'submarine'. In the post-match press conference, Hansi Flick asked the referees for greater protection for his star and other 'cracks' of LaLiga.
"We have to protect all the players. I haven't seen the clear situations. When we analyse the game I will be able to say more things. Lamine is doing very well, but also Raphinha, Lewandowski... we are playing as a team in defence and attack," argued the German coach. Yamal played the entire match against Villarreal. On Wednesday, he is likely to rest against Getafe, although he is unlikely to be out of the starting eleven.