Yamal played a starring role again as Barca defeated Mallorca to move four points clear of Real Madrid at the top of LaLiga.
After Barcelona's big win over Mallorca, Lamine Yamal has once again shown that he is the most decisive and influential player in LaLiga. This isn't just the opinion of many fans; it is backed by hard data.
What is Barcelona's record starting Lamine Yamal?
The most telling statistic is that, with the young winger in the starting line-up, Barça have won every match: twelve starts, twelve wins. All the Catalans' bad results in LaLiga – three defeats (against Osasuna, Real Sociedad and Las Palmas) and a draw (against Celta) – occurred when the teenager was absent or started on the bench. This statistic clearly underlines the team's heavy dependence on Yamal.
His influence on the game extends far beyond his goals (5) and assists (8). His presence on the pitch gives the team unpredictability, versatility and width on the right wing, pushing opponents back and making it almost impossible for them to reach Iñaki Peña's goal.
Yamal's absence allows Real Madrid to close the gap in LaLiga
At just 17 years old, Yamal is now the cornerstone of coach Hansi Flick's project. His brief absence due to a right ankle injury has coincided with the German coach's worst run of form since the German coach's arrival, which has resulted in Real Madrid and Atlético Madrid significantly closing the gap at the top of LaLiga.
Yamal's value is not only in what he does on the field, but also in the way he elevates the performance of his teammates. Right-back Jules Koundé is another player without the young striker, and Robert Lewandowski played one of his worst games of the season against Las Palmas without him.
The risk of having such an extraordinary talent in the squad is the potential for over-dependency that is difficult to manage. If he is already at the top of the pyramid at the age of seventeen, what will happen in two or three years? Such a level of exposure is a concern within the club as it could become a burden for such a young player.
As it stands, only Raphinha and Pedri have managed to perform in Yamal's absence. The rest of Barcelona's squad saw their performances decline for various reasons. Some, like Koundé, have seen a significant dip in form, with his critical mistake against Celta being a prime example, while others, like Lewandowski, have struggled to achieve goal-scoring consistency.
Yamal's influence on Barça extends all the way to the Champions League
And if Yamal's dependence is evident in LaLiga, the same trend continues in the Champions League. The only exception was the match against Monaco, where Barcelona lost 2-1 with Yamal in the starting line-up. However, it is important to note two important points from that match: first, Flick's team played almost 80 minutes with a numerical deficit due to Eric García's early red card, and second, Yamal scored Barcelona's goal.
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Original article written by Javier Miguel, translated with the help of AI and edited by Roddy Cons.
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