Erling Haaland in Awe of Lamine Yamal After Barcelona vs Inter Thriller
- Erling Haaland was left in awe of Lamine Yamal’s sensational display during Barcelona’s 3-3 draw with Inter Milan
- The 17-year-old dazzled on the big stage, scoring a beautiful solo goal to spark Barcelona’s comeback
- Haaland, like many fans and players, was clearly impressed by the teenager's fearless performance
Manchester City star Erling Haaland was left stunned by Lamine Yamal’s dazzling performance in Barcelona’s thrilling 3-3 draw with Inter Milan in the Champions League semi-final first leg on Wednesday night.
The match at Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys was a rollercoaster from the first whistle.
Source: Getty Images
As reported by Athletic, Inter Milan struck early, with Marcus Thuram netting the fastest goal ever in a Champions League semi-final, just 30 seconds in.
Denzel Dumfries added a second for the visitors in the 21st minute, putting Barcelona under real pressure.
But the Catalans hit back in style. Yamal, still only 17, sparked the comeback with a brilliant solo goal, making him the youngest-ever goalscorer in a Champions League semi-final.
Ferran Torres then slotted home from close range to level the match before halftime.
Inter regained the lead in the 64th minute, with Dumfries bagging his second of the night.
But just one minute later, Raphinha's thunderous strike crashed off the bar, bounced off Inter goalkeeper Yann Sommer, and crossed the line for Barcelona's equaliser.
It was a night full of drama and elite talent on display, but it was Yamal’s magical performance that drew praise from across the football world, including Haaland, who was impressed by the young star’s composure and quality on one of the game’s biggest stages.
Haaland blown away by Lamine Yamal's performance
Yamal put on a sensational showing on Wednesday in the first leg of Barcelona’s Champions League semi-final tie with Inter.
The teenager tormented Inter at every opportunity, and Halaand, watching at home, couldn’t believe his eyes.
“This guy is incredible,” he posted on social media along with a clip of Yamal in action.
Yamal’s superlative performance came on a landmark night as he marked his 100th appearance for Barcelona across all competitions, an astonishing feat for a player who’s still just 17 years old.
There were pre-match concerns after the teenager appeared to pick up a knock during the warm-up, sparking fears he might miss the game.
But he was cleared to play and responded by delivering a sensational display on the biggest stage.
Source: Getty Images
Yamal's performance this season
Despite missing two months of the season through injury, Yamal has still delivered 39 goal contributions in 49 appearances.
And at just 17, he doesn’t turn 18 until July, he's already firmly in the conversation with the likes of Mohamed Salah, Ousmane Dembélé, and teammate Raphinha as one of this season’s top performers.
UEFA stirs reactions with cryptic Lamine Yamal post
In an earlier report, YEN.com.gh highlighted how UEFA stirred excitement online with a cryptic post about Lamine Yamal.
The Champions League organisers’ puzzling message on X sparked a wave of fan reactions, with many speculating on the 17-year-old's rising influence in European football.
Source: YEN.com.gh
