Barcelona Boss Details Key Reason Behind Poor Lamine Yamal Performance In El Clasico

Barcelona adjunct head Marcus Sorg admitted Lamine Yamal was “affected” by nan ambiance astatine nan Santiago Bernabéu successful nan first Clásico of nan season.

After 4 consecutive victories against Real Madrid, nan defending Spanish champions suffered a 2–1 defeat to their arch rivals to adjacent retired October. Yamal, who ravaged Los Blancos successful 2024–25, was held quiet connected Sunday afternoon.

The teenage sensation managed zero shots connected target, mislaid half of his duels and only created 2 chances successful his 90 minutes connected nan transportation successful Madrid. Every clip he touched nan ball, nan packed crowd astatine nan Santiago Bernabéu sent deafening whistles his way, thing Sorg revealed rattled Yamal.

“It could beryllium that nan whistles affected him. Maybe a little. Because he’s learning to woody pinch nan crowd, nan whistling... It’s a process,” Sorg, who was filling successful connected nan touchline for nan suspended Hansi Flick, said successful his postgame property conference.

“It’s existent that he’s usually very motivated, and coming wasn’t very easy for him,” nan adjunct head added.

Álvaro Carreras did good to lock down Yamal, virtually taking distant Barcelona’s biggest threat for a mostly of nan match. Still, nan winger created nan Catalans’ champion chance of nan 2nd half, picking retired Jules Koundé pinch a superb shot complete nan apical successful nan 89th minute.

The fullback mishandled nan ball, though, and squandered nan awesome opportunity to perchance drawback an equalizer successful nan dying moments of nan match.

Lamine Yamal had a quiet day astatine nan Santiago Bernabéu. / David Ramos/Getty Images

Sorg and Barcelona are firmly opinionated down their young superstar successful nan look of aggravated criticism. Not only did Yamal neglect to present against Real Madrid, but he besides taunted nan 15-time European champions successful nan buildup to nan match, prompting a heated confrontation astatine nan Santiago Bernabéu.

“I deliberation he’s coming disconnected an injury. He needs rhythm, matches... It’s normal. He’s 18, and we person to springiness him clip and thief him,” Sorg said.

“It’s normal; opponents effort everything against him, and they accommodate to take sides well. We person to activity harder and thief him get nan champion retired of him connected nan pitch.”

Despite Yamal’s lackluster El Clásico performance, nan Spaniard still has 8 extremity contributions successful arsenic galore matches for Barcelona successful 2025–26, picking up correct wherever he near disconnected past season, moreover amid wounded struggles.

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