The Barcelona youngster said of Real Madrid that “they simply can’t beat us”
Barcelona rising star Lamine Yamal is “really happy” and believes his side have sent a message to rivals Real Madrid that they simply can’t beat La Blaugrana this season. The Catalans won 3-2 on Saturday night, scoring at the death through a Jules Kounde strike to send their fans into raptures and the Madrid faithful into dejection at the Copa del Rey final in Seville.
After the game, Yamal didn’t hold back in his pointed message that captured the mood around Camp Nou.
“This year, they simply can’t beat us. We’ve proven that. I’m really happy. Visca Barca!” the winger told reporters after the final whistle, beaming with pride.
The final itself was a rollercoaster that saw Barcelona come back from a Real Madrid comeback, indeed a fitting conclusion to the outrageous build-up that started all the way back on Friday, when the matchday official cried at a press conference.
Barcelona struck first through Pedri before Real Madrid mounted their comeback through Kylian Mbappe and then Aurelien Tchouameni. But Ferran Torres brought Barcelona level, forcing extra time, and then came Jules Kounde’s moment, a dramatic 116th-minute winner to seal the victory.
The night ended in chaos for Real Madrid: Mbappe asking for a penalty even though he was offside, Rudiger throwing ice at the referee and being held back by his teammates.
Yamal’s comments sting even more when viewed against the backdrop of Barcelona’s dominance over their fierce rivals this season. Saturday’s victory marked the Catalans’ third win over their eternal rivals in competitive fixtures this season. It followed the 4-0 humiliation at the Santiago Bernabeu, with Yamal getting on the scoresheet, and the 5-2 victory in the Supercopa de España final, where the teenager also found the net.
Saturday’s victory had the closest margin, but come the end of the season it holds the potential to hurt the most. If Barcelona succeed in winning the treble, there in their compilation of victory photos will be Yamal and his teammates waving their miniature trophies in exultation, while Los Blancos sulk in the background. They had the chance to prevent it but didn’t.
The two sides are set to clash again on 11 May in La Liga. Barcelona currently sit four points clear at the top of the table, and another win over Madrid would mean the Whites standing meekly by while they claim yet another crown. Visca Barca.
