The Barcelona–Espanyol match left a strange feeling. Despite securing all three points, the performance felt below par. Behind the scenes, Lamine Yamal appeared visibly frustrated with the team’s setup in the playmaker role, a position occupied by Raphinha, who failed to impress.
The young player felt the team lost its fluidity when Raphinha played deeper. The Brazilian lacked the necessary composure to orchestrate attacks and frequently lost possession, disrupting the team’s flow and leaving Lamine feeling isolated and unsupported in midfield.
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Hansi Flick tried deploying Raphinha in a deeper role as a temporary solution, but the experiment proved ineffective. The lack of precision and frequent turnovers diminished the team’s impact, while Lamine Yamal began to demonstrate his leadership qualities, showing he is capable of guiding the midfield and improving the team’s performance in crucial matches.
With Raphinha’s continued poor form, Lamine’s patience began to wear thin. It became clear that the issue was not with him, but with his teammate, who had not delivered the expected performance in such a critical position. This dynamic could shape Barcelona’s path in the next stage, especially in big matches that demand focus and discipline in midfield.
