In Barcelona’s 3-1 Champions League victory over Benfica, 17-year-old Lamine Yamal played a pivotal role, contributing both a goal and an assist. The assist came in the 11th minute when Yamal skillfully maneuvered through Benfica’s defense. However, he later admitted that his pass to Raphinha was unintended, as he had aimed to score himself. He stated, “I have to thank Raphinha because I tried to shoot and the pass came out to him.”
Yamal’s performance was further highlighted by a spectacular goal before the half-hour mark, where he delivered a left-footed shot from outside the box into the top corner. Reflecting on his performance, Yamal compared the goal to his first for Spain in Euro 2024, where he scored a notable left-footed shot in their 2-1 win over France in the semi-finals.
This victory secured Barcelona’s place in the Champions League quarter-finals, with Yamal becoming the youngest player in the competition’s history to both score and assist in a single match.
