Lamine Yamal takes plaudits after inspiring Barca comeback against Inter Milan

BARCELONA – Barcelona coach Hansi Flick lavished praise on Lamine Yamal, after the teenager’s brilliant goal spearheaded his side’s recovery from a two-goal deficit in a thrilling 3-3 draw with Inter Milan in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final on April 30.

Playing his 100th game at just 17 years and 291 days old, Yamal became the youngest player to score in a Champions League semi-final, eclipsing the record set by Kylian Mbappe, who was 18 when he achieved the feat in 2017.

The young Spain international’s stunning individual goal breathed life back into the game for the Catalans, after they fell 2-0 behind early in the first half at home.

He went on to hit the woodwork twice and continually troubled the Inter defence in an impressive display.

“Lamine (Yamal) showed us the way with that incredible goal because it was crucial to score that goal after we were losing by two goals, he played really well,” Flick told Movistar Plus.

“We played with style and we tried to win. Lamine was a very important player for us... In the big games, as he has already shown, he always turns up.”

Inter raced into a two-goal lead with superb strikes from Marcus Thuram and Denzel Dumfries, before the unstoppable Yamal pulled Barca back into it with his solo effort.

Ferran Torres levelled for five-time champions Barca and, although Inter nosed ahead through Dumfries again, a Yann Sommer own goal left the tie on a knife-edge at the halfway stage.

“Letting in that many goals (here) is unacceptable, but we also have to give Inter credit, they did very well,” said Barca forward Raphinha, whose fierce drive forced the own goal. “The important thing is we leave with a result where everything can happen.”

Inter boss Simone Inzaghi was also full of praise for Yamal, revealing he had to make several adjustments at half-time to try and contain the talented teenager.

“We had to be better on Lamine Yamal... He is a player who impressed me and he created a lot of problems for us, mainly in the last 30 minutes of the first half,” he said.

“Barca are a team of fantastic players and to come here and play a game like this, against the most offensive team in the world, must make us proud.

“We could also have won it but we were playing against a team that has a player who is difficult to mark, who created so many problems for us.”

“He is a talent that is born every 50 years.”

Inter were desperately hoping Thuram would be fit to play after a thigh issue and he showed precisely why, scoring the fastest-ever Champions League semi-final goal after 30 seconds.

It was a big boost as star striker Lautaro Martinez had to be substituted at half-time.

Inzaghi’s side have fitness concerns ahead of the return leg next week, with key players sidelined due to injuries. Benjamin Pavard was already out with an ankle problem, while Martinez was unable to return for the second half due to a hamstring issue.

“Lautaro felt something in his leg and we will know more after we run some tests, but it seems extremely unlikely that he can make it to the second leg, which will be a final for us,” Inzaghi added.

“We hope to have Pavard back next Tuesday, but I don’t think we can expect the same from Lautaro, unfortunately.

“It will be a final for us and I’m counting on 75,000 of our fans to help us achieve this remarkable accomplishment.” REUTERS, AFP