Without Yamal, No Victories: Barcelona's Championship Dreams Crumble

The Catalans are dropping points for the third consecutive La Liga match, making the race for the trophy increasingly challenging.

Not long ago, Barcelona sat comfortably atop La Liga, enjoying a healthy lead over their rivals. After crushing Real Madrid on their home turf, the Catalans seemed poised to reclaim the throne of Spanish football. However, the injury of 17-year-old sensation Lamine Yamal has thrown a wrench in their plans. Following a solid start with 11 wins in their first 12 matches, Barça has lost their rhythm: three games without a victory, eight points squandered, and Real Madrid now looming as a severe threat, ready to capitalize on any further slip-ups.

This decline began with a loss to Real Sociedad, followed by a draw against Celta Vigo, and now an unexpected defeat to modest Las Palmas. Without Yamal, Xavi Hernández's squad seems to lack a crucial element: freshness, unpredictability, and confidence in attack. While the young talent did appear in the second half of the latest match, it was clear he had not fully recovered from his injury.

If anyone had predicted that Las Palmas would beat Barcelona in Catalonia before the season, it would have been met with laughter. The last time the visitors from the Canary Islands defeated Barça was in 1986, and their last away victory dates back to 1972. Yet, an extraordinary upset occurred. Las Palmas capitalized on every mistake made by their illustrious opponents. Former Barça player Sandro Ramírez opened the scoring with a stunning strike, reminding everyone how often ex-players haunt their former clubs. Barcelona responded through Raphinha's long-range goal, but Fábio Silva restored the visitors' lead shortly after. The Blaugrana failed to find an equalizer.

Despite dominating possession (70%) and registering 27 shots, Barcelona appeared lackluster in finishing. Even team leader Raphinha, who scored a brilliant goal, couldn’t carry the game on his shoulders.

Credit must be given to Las Palmas: they didn't just defend but transitioned effectively into counterattacks. Their two goals highlighted their ability to exploit even the most minor mistakes. Barça's defense looked disorganized, and attacking stars like Lewandowski struggled to make an impact.

Xavi will undoubtedly analyze the team's numerous errors, especially defensive lapses that often begin during the build-up phase. More importantly, the team lost the cohesion that had brought them success earlier in the season. The following two matches, against Mallorca and Betis, will be critical for the Blaugrana. Based on the dropped points, Real Madrid is ahead and unlikely to waste the opportunity to overtake its eternal rivals.

Who would have thought that 17-year-old Lamine Yamal could become so vital to Barcelona that his absence would almost paralyze the team? A player recently part of the academy has become a cornerstone of the team’s attacking play, which collapses like a house of cards without him.

Yamal isn't just a promising talent; he’s already responsible for results. Even Lionel Messi didn't have this level of importance at the same age. Messi was gradually eased into the first team as a rotation player back then. In contrast, Yamal has become indispensable from his first matches for the senior side, earning the coaches' trust and the fans' love.

If Lamine can return to peak form, Barcelona might still have a chance to turn things around. His health will be essential. Despite his youth, he has the potential to restore the team’s power and reignite their hopes for the championship.

Published by Patrick Jane
02.12.2024