With Barcelona set to face Atletico Madrid midweek in the Copa del Rey, they still have another important fixture coming up at the weekend against neighbours Girona. After a dream 2024/25 campaign Girona are no longer quite the same unpredictable threat they once were, and they could struggle to contain a Barcelona side that includes Lamine Yamal among its key players.
Girona’s coach Michel set out his concerns and aims ahead of the match, saying they must find ways to stop Yamal. Speaking on El Larguero (Mundo Deportivo), he praised the youngster’s impact and suggested that many coaches are looking for solutions to blunt Barcelona’s right flank because of what Yamal brings to the team. Michel explained that when he first saw Yamal’s immediate influence in LaLiga, he realised this could be a player who defines an era.
The numbers underline that judgement: Yamal has recorded 15 goals and 13 assists across all competitions this season, marking him out as one of Spain’s most productive players. Michel highlighted that the difficulty in stopping him comes not only from his one-on-one skills but also from his passing and crossing abilities.
Michel described how Yamal’s blend of dribbling and playmaking makes him particularly dangerous: if defenders give him space he can pick out a forward pass or an accurate cross, sometimes with the outside of his foot, and if opponents stay very close he can beat them with his dribbling. That combination means he is a genuine game-changer.
The Girona coach declined to disclose detailed tactical plans before the match, but underlined that the way pressure is applied will be crucial. In short, his message is that Girona must do everything possible to unsettle Yamal and give him a hard time on the pitch.
