Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal Leaves Inter Milan Players in Awe, Saying He’s ‘Better than Messi’
In a thrilling Champions League semi-final first leg, Inter Milan and Barcelona played out a 3-3 draw, with Lamine Yamal’s stunning performance leaving the Italian side reeling. The 17-year-old winger’s impressive display has led Inter players to question how they can limit him in the second leg, with one player even going as far as to say that Yamal is “better than Messi”.
According to a report from The Independent, Yamal’s incredible goal in the first leg has left Inter Milan players feeling that he is a cut above the rest. As the Barcelona players left the pitch, exhausted, they were still reeling from the young winger’s impressive performance. One Inter player was so taken aback by Yamal that he was immediately messaging people with that exact line, highlighting the impact that the young player has had.
The first leg of the semi-final was a thrilling encounter, with Inter Milan taking an early lead through Marcus Thuram and Denzel Dumfries. However, Barcelona fought back with a Lamine Yamal-inspired performance, with the young winger scoring a stunning goal and Ferran Torres levelling from six yards to end a riveting first half. As The Independent reported, “Dumfries teed up Marcus Thuram for a flashy finish after 30 seconds – the fastest goal in a Champions League semi-final – then the Dutchman acrobatically doubled the Serie A champions’ lead.”
Yamal’s impressive performance has raised questions about how Inter Milan can limit him in the second leg. As The Independent noted, “You don’t have to ask who the “he” is. One Inter player was so taken aback by Lamine Yamal that he was immediately messaging people with that exact line. They now have to figure out how to limit him for the second leg.”
The second leg of the semi-final is set to take place on Tuesday, May 6, at the San Siro in Milan, with Inter Milan looking to reach a second final in three years. Barcelona, meanwhile, are hoping to take the Catalan club back to European football’s biggest stage for the first time in a decade. As The Independent reported, “More goals seem certain given the high-risk, high-reward favoured by Hansi Flick this season.”
In terms of team news, Inter Milan are expected to be without striker Lautaro Martinez, who is a major doubt after his hamstring injury in the first leg. Benjamin Pavard’s participation is also uncertain. Barcelona, meanwhile, look set to be without both of their first-choice full-backs, with Alejandro Balde not yet back to fitness after injury and Jules Kounde absent.
The match is due to kick off at 8pm BST, with viewers in the United Kingdom able to watch the action live on Amazon Prime Video. As The Independent noted, “Viewers in the United Kingdom can watch the action live on Amazon Prime Video, with coverage on the streaming service from 7pm BST.”
In conclusion, the Champions League semi-final second leg between Inter Milan and Barcelona promises to be an exciting encounter, with Lamine Yamal’s impressive performance in the first leg leaving Inter players reeling. As The Independent reported, “Inter rocked their hosts with early goals from Marcus Thuram and Denzel Dumfries but a Lamine Yamal-inspired Barcelona roared back to leave the encounter level heading to Italy.” With both teams looking to book a place in the final in Munich on May 31, neutrals will be hoping for more of the same thrilling encounter.
Chris Wilson and Miguel Delaney of The Independent provide further analysis on this match, saying that Barcelona are likely to field a strong lineup, while Inter Milan will look to make the most of their home advantage. With predicted lineups and further team news, The Independent provides comprehensive coverage of this match.
Flo Clifford and Chris Wilson also contributed to this article for The Independent.
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