Lamine Yamal's most magical version catapults Barça into the quarterfinals.
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The youth player annihilated Benfica with an assist to Raphinha and a curling goal that makes comparisons with Messi inevitable.
After a run by Balde, the Brazilian sealed the deal and is now the 'Pichichi' of this Champions League with 11 goals.
Flick's team, a full-fledged candidate for everything, displayed great competitive maturity and flawless football.
Dortmund or Lille are already looming on the road to Munich, still far away but getting closer for an uncontested Barça that ran over Benfica (3-1) on an anthological afternoon for Lamine Yamal. Half a match was enough for the Portuguese to capitulate to the unstoppable Barça football, crowned with a memorable performance by the lad, author of a goal and an assist to Raphinha, who then sealed his double. Ticket to the quarterfinals by the fast track and incomparable tribute to Dr. Carles Miñarro.
Hansi Flick's plan did not surprise, nor did Bruno Lage's. The German opted for Araujo, as in Da Luz after Cubarsí's red card, to form a tandem at the back with Iñigo Martínez and kept faith in Olmo, a starter for the fourth time in a row. In front, an ambitious Benfica with Pavlidis up front, the re-emerging Florentino to provide solidity in the midfield and the Swede Dahl, replacement for the suspended Álvaro Carreras and a pittance for Lamine Yamal.
The initial script of the Portuguese was predictable, pressing high with Aursnes in line with Pavlidis when Iñigo Martínez and Araujo came out. Intelligent, the 'Flick Team' minimized risks. Patient and without fear of not having the ball. Because by coming out well from the back and looking for Olmo or Lamine, Lisbon's oxygen would dwindle. The winger threatened first by combining with Lewandowski. First warning. There was none other than a heavenly play that inevitably draws comparisons with the greatest genius in history. Lamine grabbed the ball in the three-quarter zone, Florentino faced him but left him on the grass with a masterful feint without stopping to drive with his left foot and sending a brutal assist. Raphinha, at the far post, volleyed home a shot that raised his fingers to the sky in memory of Dr. Miñarro.
Olmo was another key player as an anchor, speeding up the game with verticality at the start and always choosing the best decision between the lines. The player from Egar, very close to Dr. Miñarro, came close to making it 2-1 after a great play by Balde, immeasurable and with nothing to envy of that Alphonso Davies who annihilated Barça in the 2-8. Flick already has it with Alejandro. A plane in Montjuïc.
Smelling the rout, the second half began with a clear Barcelona monologue, making Benfica dizzy, already with the white flag in front of the dance of Pedri, De Jong, Olmo and others among cheers from the fans, surrendered to a Barça that is more than a candidate for Europe again while a goalkeeper, a mere spectator of the recital after being a hero in the first leg, celebrated having come out of retirement while listening to chants of "Szczesny, smoker!".
See you soon!
Posted Using INLEO