Lamine Yamal, a teenager from Barcelona, scored an impressive goal securing a hard-fought 1-0 home victory against a formidable Mallorca side on Friday. This win brought Barcelona within five points of leaders Real Madrid.
With the victory, Barcelona temporarily moved into second place with 61 points, two ahead of Girona, as they closed in on Madrid. Real Madrid is set to host struggling Celta Vigo on Sunday.
Yamal's exceptional shot, coming in the 73rd minute, saved Barcelona from what would have been their second consecutive draw. This goal marked the 16-year-old Yamal's sixth across all competitions in his debut full season with Barcelona.
Despite his young age, Yamal has achieved several milestones, including being the youngest player to debut and score in the Spanish league, score for Spain, and start in the Champions League. His four league goals before turning 17 are twice as many as any other player at the same age in LaLiga history. Yamal turns 17 in July.
Reflecting on his goal, Yamal said, "I was trying to keep their left back occupied, but since they gave me space, I went for my shot." Looking ahead, he added, "Now we have to focus on the Champions League, where we face one of the most important games of the season."
Another standout performer for Barcelona was 17-year-old center back Pau Cubrasí, who once again showcased his defensive prowess and passing skills. Barcelona coach Xavi Hernandez praised Cubrasí, saying, "Cubrasí is intelligent. He knows when to go in for the challenge or not. He didn't lose a single duel. Spectacular."
Xavi also commended Cubrasí's ability to distribute the ball from the back, remarking, "He doesn't seem like a 17-year-old. Today, he faced two powerful strikers [Vedat Muriqi and Cyle Larin) and played an amazing game. He's playing like a captain. It's amazing, the personality he shows for the team, I think it's spectacular today."
In the 24th minute, Ilkay Gündogan had an opportunity to put Barcelona ahead with a penalty, but Mallorca goalkeeper Predrag Rajkovic denied him with a diving save to the left. Despite Mallorca's dangerous breaks and several chances, they couldn't find a finishing touch, remaining in 15th place with 27 points, eight clear of the relegation zone.
Looking forward, Xavi kept Robert Lewandowski on the bench until the final half-hour, resting him ahead of Tuesday's Champions League round of 16 second leg against Napoli.
Xavi also had to substitute Raphinha in the 37th minute following a foul on the Brazilian forward. However, Xavi reassured fans that Raphinha's injury was only a "knock," with no new injury concerns ahead of Tuesday's crucial fixture.
"I am always optimistic despite the situation we are in," Xavi said regarding the upcoming Napoli game. "The win today breeds confidence. It may not seem important, but it is. We need the fans on Tuesday, and we will give our all to reach the quarterfinals."
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