Barça: the culprit behind Lamine Yamal’s poor form is clear

Lamine Yamal in trouble: Spanish press points the finger

Europe 03 November 2025 at 04:21

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Barça: the culprit behind Lamine Yamal’s poor form is clear

FC Barcelona returned to winning ways against Elche (3-1), but Lamine Yamal’s performance continues to divide opinion. The young prodigy, who scored in La Liga for the first time since August, still failed to fully reassure despite opening the scoring early. This match was supposed to mark a comeback after the Clasico defeat and, while the Catalan team responded as a unit, Yamal’s case remains a hot topic in the Spanish press.

One goal... but clear physical limitations

On the surface, everything seemed to be going well: in the 9th minute, Lamine Yamal broke the deadlock with a powerful strike after a fine team move. A symbolic goal, but not enough to dispel all doubts. According to Mundo Deportivo,

“he showed a desire for revenge, but lacked the necessary physical intensity.”

The outlet highlights a player “still far from his best level”, while pundit Jorge D’Alessandro (El Chiringuito de Jugones) believes he “lacked commitment” and that “some of his turnovers could have cost Barça dearly.”

Hansi Flick’s management under scrutiny

The statistics back up this mixed impression: in 88 minutes, Yamal completed only two out of five dribbles and posted just a 70% pass accuracy, according to AS. Meanwhile, Cadena SER questions Hansi Flick’s management:

“Why play him so much when he’s hampered by a groin injury?” asks journalist Anton Meana.

The club, already at odds with the Spanish national team over how to manage the youngster’s workload, now faces a dilemma: protect their gem or keep relying on him despite clear signs of fatigue. At just 17, Lamine Yamal must now prove he can overcome this tricky spell. The trip to Bruges on Wednesday, in the Champions League, could either reignite or intensify the debate surrounding the Catalan sensation.