Lamine Yamal leads Barcelona to a 28th La Liga title
At just 17, Lamine Yamal continues to dazzle the soccer world, delivering a masterful performance to lead Barcelona to their 28th La Liga title in a 2-0 triumph over city rivals Espanyol on May 15, 2025. The victory, sealed with two games to spare, ensured Real Madrid could not close the seven-point gap, cementing Barcelona’s dominance in a thrilling 2024-25 season.
Albert Gea/Reuters
Lamine Yamal’s stunning goal makes the difference in the Catalan derby
Yamal, the teenage prodigy, was the heartbeat of the match at RCDE Stadium. In the 53rd minute, he picked up the ball on the right flank, danced past defenders with his signature flair, and unleashed a breathtaking left-footed curler into the top corner. The strike, his eighth league goal of the season, sparked wild celebrations among Barcelona fans and silenced the Espanyol crowd. But Yamal wasn’t done. Deep in stoppage time, he turned provider, slipping a precise pass to Fermín López, who slotted home to secure the 2-0 scoreline.
Lamine Yamal, victim of an attack that changed the game
The match wasn’t without tension. Espanyol, despite their 16th-place standing, pressed hard in the first half, with goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny making crucial saves to keep the score level. The hosts’ hopes faded when Leandro Cabrera received a straight red card in the 80th minute for striking Yamal, reducing Espanyol to 10 men. Post-match, Espanyol turned on the sprinklers to disrupt Barcelona’s celebrations, a nod to past rivalries, but it did little to dampen the champions’ joy.
Under first-year manager Hansi Flick, Barcelona completed a domestic treble, having already claimed the Copa del Rey and Spanish Super Cup. Flick praised Yamal’s “golden feet,” noting, “He’s a genius who shows up in big moments.” The title win helped ease the sting of a dramatic Champions League semifinal exit to Inter Milan earlier in May. “Three titles in my first season is incredible,” Flick said. “I’m thrilled for the club.”
Hansi Flick praises Lamine Yamal: “He’s a genius.”
Yamal’s rise is nothing short of historic. With 24 goals and 28 assists in 104 games for Barcelona, plus four goals in 19 caps for Spain, he outpaces legends like Lionel Messi at the same age. His accolades include Euro 2024, La Liga, Copa del Rey, and Spanish Super Cup titles, plus the 2024 Kopa Trophy. Posts on X hailed him as a Ballon d’Or contender, with one user noting, “At 17, he’s won it all—Euro, La Liga, Copa. Unstoppable.”
Barcelona’s future lies with Lamine Yamal
Despite an off-field incident where a car injured 13 fans outside the stadium (none seriously), the focus remained on Yamal’s brilliance. “I just try my best, and today it went in,” Yamal said humbly. As Barcelona looks to their final matches against Villarreal and Athletic Club, Yamal’s star continues to rise, promising an even brighter future for the Blaugrana.
