The stats of Lamine Yamal Barcelona season have brought to light the reasons why the young winger has emerged as one of the most important of European football. After injuries, he has proven to be one of the best attacking players in La Liga this season.
The overall campaign was successful for Barcelona, who saw head coach Hansi Flick win Coach of the Year honours. In that organization, Yamal was very much in the middle of things when he was around, as a creative force. He could be one of Barcelona’s most unpredictable attacking players, thanks to his ability to break through defence.
The Catalan club’s official evaluation is that Yamal always caused big trouble for the opposition defence. His dribbling, speed and decision making made teams adjust their defensive shape in particular to contain him. He’s on a level of focus that is uncommon for his age.
Yamal’s 16 goals and 11 assists were impressive on the statistical level. He was also the league leader in goal cycling, indicating that he was a player with a comprehensive impact. He showed his tactical understanding in the early game in attacking positions while playing in build-up phases.
But his season wasn’t all smooth sailing. He missed a number of games – including Barcelona’s last six – due to groin problems and later a hamstring injury. These injuries hurt his overall appearance a bit but didn’t diminish his impact when healthy.
In the future, Yamal will be deployed in Spain next time around the World Cup in North America. His recovery is being closely watched but early indications are that he will be in the national set-up. When Yamal got into top football at the age of 16, he’s still climbing up the ladder and now looks like one of Spain’s most valuable prospects.
