Lamine Yamal Faces Crucial Test to Confirm His Star Role at Barcelona

Lamine Yamal is approaching his first major proving ground of the season. Barcelona, under Hansi Flick, reclaimed the top spot in LaLiga last matchday, but the team still needs a dominant statement performance to solidify their improvement and stabilize an inconsistent start. That spotlight now falls directly on the young Barça prodigy.

In the biggest matches of the season, Lamine has yet to shine as brightly as expected. PSG, Real Madrid and Chelsea pushed Barcelona to the limit, and the winger couldn’t find the impactful presence fans hoped for. However, he arrives at the Metropolitano with renewed confidence — both physically and mentally — after overcoming pubic discomfort and showing a much sharper attacking attitude against Alavés. He missed four matches prior to the tie against PSG, and although he played the full 90 minutes, he faded in the final stretch.

The Alavés game, though, reignited optimism. Lamine took on defenders 15 times, won 10 duels, scored the equalizer and delivered the assist for Dani Olmo’s game-winning goal. He also recovered eight balls — a defensive contribution Flick demands and one the teenager is beginning to master with maturity. Lamine Yamal now carries the heaviest shirt number at Barcelona, fully aware of its legacy. Messi turned that number into the standard of brilliance on the biggest stages, and the young Spaniard wants to start carving his own legend through decisive performances against elite rivals. Against Atlético, he has the ideal platform: fully fit, in rhythm, and coming off a match in which his explosiveness emerged with force. Barça needs their No. 10 to respond, and Lamine has every tool to make it happen.