Barcelona began their Champions League campaign with a commanding victory over Feyenoord, and the defining image of the night came after the goals: Lamine Yamal, still a teenager, taking the captain’s armband to become the youngest captain in the history of the club’s first team.
Lamine carries Barcelona’s European night
With Raphinha and Pedri both off the pitch, the armband passed to Yamal, Barcelona’s fifth captain after being chosen by the dressing room. It was a striking measure of the responsibility now placed on the Rocafonda forward under Hansi Flick.
Before the match, Yamal had described the added role as “a great pride” and said he would do everything possible to help the side. Against Feyenoord, he did precisely that in Barcelona’s first European fixture of the season.
- Yamal scored directly from a free-kick, sending his effort through a slightly opening wall and beyond the Feyenoord goalkeeper.
- He supplied assists for Raphinha and Gabriel Jesus.
- His free-kick was his 12th Champions League goal.
- After scoring, he ran to celebrate beside Raphinha on the Barcelona bench.
Raphinha’s encouragement pays off
Raphinha revealed afterwards that he had tried to keep Yamal engaged when the young forward was becoming frustrated during the game.
“I know Lamine and could see he was drifting out of the match when things were not working,” Raphinha said. “I tried to lift him and told him he would score, so that he would stay involved. In the end he got his goal and I was very happy for him. He needed that goal. A winning team is built when players are pleased for each other.”
Barcelona again settled the contest with a heavy win over Feyenoord, but Yamal’s influence ran beyond his goal and the captaincy. He was central to the attacking rhythm throughout the evening.
The numbers behind Yamal’s display
- Four shots, with two on target.
- Four key passes.
- A 93% overall passing completion rate, rising by one percentage point in Barcelona’s own half.
- Perfect accuracy from his long passing.
- Seven successful dribbles from 12 attempts.
- 76 involvements in the match.
- Four ball recoveries in defensive work.
For Barcelona, it was an emphatic opening to another European week. For Yamal, the night brought a landmark captaincy, a superb free-kick and further evidence that he has become one of the figures carrying the club’s Champions League ambition.
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SEO title: Lamine Yamal becomes Barcelona’s youngest captain in Feyenoord Champions League win
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