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Lamine Yamal has matched Lionel Messi’s record from the 2014-15 season after providing an assist for Barcelona in a La Liga clash against Real Valladolid. The match ended 7-0 in favor of the hosts on at Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys on Saturday, August 31.
Barcelona opened the scoring through Raphinha's goal from an assist by Pau Cubarsí in the 20th minute. Robert Lewandowski doubled the score with Lamine Yamal's assist in the 24th minute. The first half ended with Jules Koundé netting the Blaugrana's third goal in 45+2 minutes.
Raphinha scored the fourth goal for the Blaugrana with an assist by Lewandowski in the 64th minute. The Brazilian winger struck again with an assist by Yamal eight minutes later. Dani Olmo took the score to six through an assist by Ferran Torres, who netted the last goal of the match with an assist by Raphinha.
With two assists against Real Valladolid, Lamine Yamal has made at least one goal contribution for Barcelona in the first four La Liga matches. He became the first player to do so since Lionel Messi in the 2014-2015 season.
Lamine Yamal, who made his senior debut for the Blaugrana in 2023, has netted eight goals and provided 11 assists in 54 appearances across all competitions. He also won the 2024 UEFA European Championship with Spain. He was named the Young Player of the Tournament with one goal and four assists in seven games.
Athletic Club boss says Lamine Yamal to be like Barcelona legend Lionel Messi
Athletic Club head coach Ernesto Valverde heaped praise on Lamine Yamal after the Blaugrana bagged a 2-1 win against his side on August 24. The 17-year-old netted one goal against Athletic Club. The 60-year-old Spanish manager drew comparisons between Yamal and Lionel Messi, and said (via Barca Universal):
"Lamine Yamal. He's like Messi. Does he surprise me? No. Everyone knows how good he is. He can dribble past anyone."
Earlier, Barcelona academy coach Oscar Lopez shared his opinion on one important quality of Lionel Messi's that Lamine Yamal is yet to master. Lopez said on Sky Sports:
"One of Messi’s great strengths, one of the many strengths that he had, was that he knew how to run the team. He knew how to make the team play, from a midfield position, or from that position on the right wing, going inside."
"He knew when it was necessary for him to lead the team, when to accelerate the play, and when he had to say, ‘Hey, the team is not playing well today, but I am, so I am going to decide this game, I am going to break it open.’ That is what I think Lamine still needs a little bit. But, over time, he is going to get it."
Barcelona are currently first on the La Liga table with 12 points in four league matches. They face Girona next in the league on September 15.
