Lamine Yamal once again demonstrated his match-winning ability as Barcelona's teenage sensation broke the deadlock with a magnificent strike to secure a hard-fought 1-0 away victory against Athletic Bilbao at San Mames Stadium. The 18-year-old Spain forward received a pass from Pedri Gonzalez on the right side of the area, used one touch to create space, and curled a left-footed shot that struck the upper edge of the far post before nestling in the net in the 68th minute.
This decisive goal marked Yamal's 19th across all competitions this season, helping Hansi Flick's side maintain a four-point lead over second-placed Real Madrid and bolstering their position in the defense of the La Liga title. Last weekend, Yamal scored his first hat-trick in a 4-1 league win over Villarreal, underscoring his rapid rise as a key player for the Catalan giants.
The gritty away triumph in the Basque Country came just four days after Barcelona's disappointing exit from the Copa del Rey semifinals against Atletico Madrid, providing a much-needed morale boost. Flick opted to rest several regular starters ahead of the Champions League round-of-16 clash with Newcastle on Tuesday, with Pedri, Raphinha, and Fermin Lopez starting on the bench and only introduced in the final half-hour.
Athletic Bilbao created the better chances throughout the match but were repeatedly thwarted by Barcelona goalkeeper Joan Garcia, who produced a string of fine saves to keep the visitors level and highlight his growing importance this campaign. After Flick brought on Raphinha, Pedri, and Robert Lewandowski in the second half, the breakthrough arrived when Pedri released Yamal inside the box, and the youngster delivered a clinical finish to silence the home crowd.
With this victory, Barcelona tops the La Liga standings with 67 points, while Athletic Bilbao sits ninth with 35 points. The win reinforces Barcelona's title credentials amid a tightly contested season, though challenges remain as they balance domestic and European commitments.
Source: www.aljazeera.com