16-year-old player saves Barca

Spain Spanish midfielder Lamine Yamal opened the scoring and scored the decisive goal to help Barca draw 3-3 with Granada in round 24 of La Liga.

Yamal had a successful individual match, becoming the highest scorer under the age of 17 in La Liga history with three goals. Before scoring twice against Granada, Lamine scored his first league goal in the same match in a 2-2 draw with the same opponents in October 2023.

The previous record for most goals scored by a player under 17 in La Liga was held by Ansu Fati and Iker Muniain with two goals each, while Fabrice Olinga and Xisco Nadal each scored one goal each. Lamine could break that record further, having only turned 17 on July 13.

Yamal dribbles past the Granada defense during the La Liga match round 24 at the Olympic Lluis Companys stadium, in Barcelona on February 11. Photo: FC Barcelona

Lamine came through the famed La Masia academy and made his first-team debut replacing Gavi in ​​a 4-0 win over Betis in April 2023. He holds numerous records as the youngest player to play for Barca (15 years, nine months, and 16 days), youngest starter for Barca (16 years, 38 days), youngest assist provider in La Liga (16 years, 45 days) and youngest starter in Champions League history (16 years, 83 days). At the end of 2023, Lamine signed a new contract until June 2026 with a release clause of one billion euros, equivalent to $1.05 billion.

At the Olimpic Lluis Companys stadium - Barca's home ground this season when Camp Nou was renovated - on February 11, Lamine opened the scoring in the 14th minute with a close-range tap-in from a cross by Joao Cancelo.

Then, in the 43rd and 60th minutes, Facundo Pellistri - a player currently playing for Granada on loan from Man Utd - assisted Ricard Sanchez to equalize the score and then finished close range to put the visitors ahead. At 22 years and 53 days, Pellistri became the youngest player to both score and assist away to Barca in La Liga since Samuel Eto'o at 19 years and 30 days in April 2000.

In the 63rd minute, Robert Lewandowski scored from Ilkay Gundogan's wall, then Ignasi Miquel - a player who had spent time training at La Masia - re-established the lead for Granada.

Lewandowski celebrates equalizing 2-2 for Barca in the 63rd minute. Photo: FC Barcelona

Barca's defence has continued to be shaky, conceding 23 goals in 11 games in all competitions in 2024, more than any other team in Europe's top five leagues. Frosinone are next in Serie A with 22 goals conceded in seven games.

The 3-3 draw left Barca in third place and ten points behind Real at the top of the table. On February 17, Xavi and his team visited Celta Vigo.

Line-up :

Barca : Ter Stegen, Kounde, Cubarsi, Inigo Martinez, Cancelo (Raphinha 75), De Jong, Christensen (Fermin 67), Gundogan, Yamal, Pedri (Guiu 89), Lewandowski.

Granada : Batalla, Maouassa, Miquel, Rubio, Ricard Sanchez, Hongla, Sergio Ruiz, Gumbau (Torrente 90), Melendo (Callejon 75), Pellistri (Jozwiak 84), Uzuni (Arezo 84).

Hong Duy

Source link: https://vnexpress.net/cau-thu-16-tuoi-cuu-barca-4711021.html