All eyes are on the second leg of the Champions League quarterfinals, where Barcelona will look to stage a comeback against an Atlético Madrid side that will capitalize on its lead and home-field advantage.
Ahead of the decisive match, Lamine Yamal spoke with the press and once again demonstrated his character with a direct message for Diego Simeone.
Yamal challenges “Cholo” before the match
Barça needs to overturn a 0-2 deficit from the first leg at Camp Nou, forcing them to win by a margin of three goals or more in the second leg, or at least score two goals to take the match into extra time and a penalty shootout. And all this while keeping a clean sheet.
Although the situation isn’t the most favorable for the Culés, Lamine believes in a comeback, in himself, and in Hansi Flick’s team. Proof of this were his statements at the pre-match press conference:
“I feel great, really looking forward to tomorrow’s match. I’m motivated and hope to make a difference,” he began, adding:
Let’s see if Cholo does me a favor and sets me up one-on-one with a player-I hope so.
Far from sounding provocative, Yamal’s comment was interpreted as a sign of confidence in his ability, especially in one-on-one situations where he has proven he can make a difference.
The 18-year-old has been instrumental for Barcelona throughout this season, both in domestic competitions and in the Champions League, recording 22 goals and 18 assists in 43 matches played.
Meanwhile, both teams have a lot at stake: the Catalans haven’t won the Champions League in over a decade, while the Rojiblancos have yet to win it.
Atlético Madrid and Barcelona will face off on April 14 at the Metropolitano for a spot in the Champions League semifinals. The match is scheduled to begin at 3:00 PM ET.
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