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Lamine Yamal spotted a habit in opposing defenders, then used it to produce one of his two assists against Galatasaray on Tuesday.
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Barcelona’s 19-year-old attacker explained the thinking behind his second setup while speaking with Thierry Henry. The move involved exploiting defenders’ tendency to slide when he approached the byline, giving Yamal an opening to try something spectacular.
“Lately, I’d noticed that defenders were often throwing themselves to the ground when I got near the byline.”
That observation shaped his approach. Yamal wanted to create an opportunity, but he also saw a chance to add some flair.
“I saw an opportunity, I thought it could work and that it would look even cooler. IT WORKED, so I’m thrilled.”
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His explanation gave the sequence another layer. The dribble came from recognizing how defenders reacted to his positioning and deciding how to use that reaction.
Yamal had offered little before halftime during Barcelona’s Champions League league phase visit to Istanbul. After the break, he supplied two assists within minutes as Hansi Flick’s side overturned an early disadvantage at RAMS Park, Yahoo reports.
First, his left-footed cross found Fermín López for the goal that put Barcelona ahead. Then came the dribble and pass that set up Anthony Gordon, with Yamal’s creativity taking center stage.
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João Cancelo and Karim Adeyemi also scored as Barcelona strengthened their position against Galatasaray.
For Yamal, the reasoning behind those attacking moves starts with finding room.
“I always try to use feints to create space.”
Addressing Henry directly, he added: “You know this very well,” before explaining that “defenders always try to close in on you.”
This time, Yamal used that pressure to his advantage.
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