How Lamine Yamal-fuelled Barcelona are coping with chaos in bid for glorious season as Champions League returns
Published 20/01/2025 at 17:48 GMT
Stadium delays, injuries, financial woes - it's not been a serene season for Barcelona, but that hasn't stopped them threatening to pull off one of the most successful campaigns in their history. The Blaugrana haven't won the UEFA Champions League since 2015, but after strong results to date and with the sensational Lamine Yamal in their ranks, could this be their time again?
What I Wore - Emmanuel Petit
Video credit: TNT Sports
These, you would think, are not the results of a Barcelona in crisis. Yet, at times this season, it has felt that way.
The club, so beset by financial limitations, has had to labour through a complicated - now resolved - saga over the registration of Dani Olmo and Pau Victor that has cast a shadow over their hard-earned reputation.
The problems have been so extensive that one of Barca's club captains, Raphinha, has said that he could understand some players "thinking twice" before joining the Catalans.
That is a startling admission in itself, but it's not the only thing Barca have had to battle this term.
The club have not played at their Camp Nou home since May 2023 - a match so long ago that it featured the respective farewells of Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba - instead holding their fixtures at the Lluis Companys Olympic Stadium in Montjuic.
And after delays to the stadium refurbishment, it now looks like the Blaugrana may not move back into their home until May, per The Athletic.
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Construction work on the third tier of the Spotify Camp Nou, January 7, 2025.
Image credit: Getty Images
Amid the setbacks - of which injuries to key players such as Marc-Andre Ter Stegen, Frenkie de Jong and Ronald Araujo can also be factored in - Barcelona have nonetheless delivered some notable results, especially in Europe.
The Blaugrana sit second in the UCL table with five wins from six, have scored the most goals to date - 21 - and have spent more time leading games than any other team, at 59.1%.
Tack on beating Real in the campaign's first two Clasicos and bagging their first trophy of the season - the Spanish Supercopa - thanks to their stunning triumph over Carlo Ancelotti's side in Jeddah, and there are reasons to be positive despite their difficult recent results in La Liga.
Ahead of the final league phase matchday, available to watch and stream live on TNT Sports and discovery+, what factors are in Barca's favour to drive them towards a sixth European Cup?
- How to watch the UEFA Champions League on TNT Sports and discovery+
- How Flick unlocked Raphinha to build the best attack in Europe
Yamal 'has everything at 17'
Leading Barcelona's charge has been a gifted left-footed maestro, creating and scoring extraordinary goals for fun.
Where once it was Lionel, now it's Lamine.
World Cup winner Emmanuel Petit, speaking to TNT Sports recently, put forward the teenager when asked to name a player he rated highly in today's game.
"He [Yamal] does things on the pitch incredibly," Petit said.
"He’s having a great season so far with Barcelona, he won a big trophy last season with his national team, he was probably the best player during a European tournament – 17 years old!
"This guy, I would pay money to watch him. He can play right-footed, left-footed, he can dribble with both feet, so it’s impossible.
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'Out of absolutely nowhere' - Yamal levels with 'world-class strike'
Video credit: TNT Sports
"And on top of it, he’s so dynamic, you know? With his feet, he’s quick, he’s fast and he always makes the right decision with the ball.
"On top of that, he’s got the vision, the intelligence, the movement, he’s got everything at 17 years old already."
High praise indeed, and the stats point to an individual who - having carried his country to lofty European heights last summer - is now doing the same in European club football.
| Category | Yamal UCL rank # |
| Line-breaking passes leading to goals | =1st |
| Successful through-balls | =3rd |
| Successful take-ons | =5th |
Stats: Opta
Another homegrown generation?
It's not just Yamal who is responsible for Barca's glittering displays this term, but a coterie of fellow youngsters alongside him.
The fabled La Masia stable is doing it again, with the likes of Pau Cubarsi - who like Yamal, is still only 17 - Alejandro Balde and Marc Casado all starting in the Supercopa final victory over Madrid.
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‘Incredible’ teenager Cubarsi compared to Koeman – ‘Makes it look so easy’
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But perhaps it's the reuniting of a moderately more experienced duo - Gavi and Pedri - that is making Barca tick.
Easy comparisons have long been made to fellow Spanish midfield duo Andres Iniesta and Xavi, but it's taken some time - due to injuries - for them to play alongside each other for an extended period.
Gavi spent 348 days without making a Barcelona appearance after suffering an ACL injury while on Spain duty in November 2023, but he has started all of the last four games for his club, bringing all his usual purpose and guile with the ball in advanced areas of the pitch, and even appearing on the scoresheet.
Given Barca have been so impressive in the Champions League already, could Gavi's return - together with that of De Jong - create another era-defining Catalan carousel?
Flick navigating choppy waters
Replacing a homegrown hero - Xavi - in the dugout, dealing with the raft of aforementioned issues, and trying to rebuild his own reputation after a difficult spell in charge of Germany; there have been a number of challenges for Hansi Flick to overcome in his first season in charge of Barcelona.
But so far, so good, with the 59-year-old already the recipient of two La Liga manager-of-the-month awards, as his calm demeanour has acted as something of a comfort blanket for the club.
Flick hinted at a dynamic he is seeking to create amid the turbulence, when talking recently about the Olmo and Victor situation.
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Flick 'really happy' for Barca Super Cup win, as well as Olmo and Victor clearances
Video credit: SNTV
"It’s not an easy situation for us. Not having them is difficult because they are two important players," the German boss said, before the situation had been resolved.
"We know that Olmo is an excellent player and of course we miss him very much, but we have to continue.
"Of course it will affect us, but it unites us as a team and we must show that we are a team."
That unity will be tested in the run-in, but Barcelona - so far - are putting together a season that could yet be one of their best.
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