It’s another sign of just how dependent Barcelona have become on Lamine Yamal that it took the 18-year-old’s introduction to give the Catalans the little bit extra they needed to win the game against Real
Sociedad.
La Real provided a typical low block favoured by those teams that are set up not to lose rather than to win, and Barca have routinely struggled against this type of set up.
Despite an unreal level of possession in the opening 60 minutes, a mixture of man-of-the-match goalkeeping from Alex Remiro, poor choices and just bad luck all seemed to be contriving to deny the Blaugranes the chance of ending the weekend top of the pile.
Step forward the best player in the world, even if he isn’t yet recognised as such, to turn the tide in Barca’s favour.
Fresh legs will have got Lamine past his full-back but he still had the presence of mind to float a super cross right on Robert Lewandowski’s head.
In many respects it’s his incredibly mature decision making that sets the youngster apart.
There have been plenty of players including at Barcelona – Gerard Deulofeu anyone – that can show defences a clean pair of heels, but rarely if ever has there been a player that time and time again just gets his delivery right.
To think that we’ve another decade or so before Lamine reaches his supposed peak as a player, injuries notwithstanding, is an incredible prospect.
The one issue that the club do have, as they did with Pedri, is the sheer amount of games that he’s being played in. Ask any player if they want to play and the answer is obvious, but sometimes a situation needs to be managed differently.
Hansi Flick and his backroom staff have certainly earned the trust of culers after a great first season in the dugout, and one therefore has to believe that there is genuinely no risk of Lamine burning out well before the 2025/26 campaign is over.
With a World Cup ahead next summer too, it’s another close season where he and others won’t get the required rest, and whilst national team commitments have to take a back seat to some degree, the club can at least agree upon an amount of playing time that’s beneficial for all parties.
For now, Barca can revel in their status as top dogs in La Liga, and look forward to their next league assignment against Sevilla.
