No mercy for Lamine Yamal

Latest news about Barcelona. Lamine Yamal, a 19-year-old forward, received a 4 out of 10 rating from L'Équipe after Barcelona's 4-2 loss to PSG on October 20 in the Champions League. The French newspaper questioned his performance for much of the game, despite his goal in the 79th minute that temporarily equalized the score.

Lamine Yamal, sanctioned by L'Équipe after the clash against PSG

The evaluation by L'Équipe contrasts with the significance of Yamal's goal in the match. The striker equalized 2-2 with a left-footed shot from a difficult angle, momentarily bringing Barcelona back into the game at the Parc des Princes.

However, the French newspaper considered that the goal did not outweigh the difficulties the player showed for the remainder of the match. His score was 4 out of 10, reflecting doubts raised by his performance against Luis Enrique's defensive system, who had praised the world champion ahead of the European match.

The main obstacle for Yamal was Lucas Hernández, tasked with defending his area and limiting his opportunities to advance. PSG's setup restricted the winger's influence during the first half when Barcelona struggled to maintain consistency in their attacks.

The criticism also focused on Yamal's ball losses. According to the post-match assessment, he had 20 turnovers, fueling concerns about his decision-making and ability to find solutions under opponent pressure.

@Gotham__1907 https://t.co/vqGs05Mun9

— archive (@GothamMedya7777) October 20, 2026

Lamine Yamal's goal doesn't prevent Barcelona's defeat

The winger's goal came in the 79th minute just as Barcelona had leveled the score for the second time in the match. However, the response lasted only two minutes: Vitinha put PSG ahead again in the 81st minute, and Fabián Ruiz secured the final 4-2 score in the 86th minute.

Hansi Flick's team managed to stay in the fight through goals from Xavi Espart in the 55th minute and Yamal. Yet, the Parisian side found gaps in the final stages and exploited the opponent's defensive issues.

The defeat marked Barcelona's first stumble of the season after winning their initial two matches in the Champions League group stage. It also provided an individual assessment for Yamal: his ability to make a difference in one move didn't prevent the French press from questioning his performance throughout the game.

Barcelona needs Yamal's best form back before El Clásico

L'Équipe's rating arrives in a crucial week for Barcelona. The club will host Real Madrid on Sunday, October 25, at 9:00 pm at the Spotify Camp Nou, demanding a response after the European loss.

Yamal heads into that fixture after scoring against PSG and also finding the net against Real Betis in a 5-2 win on October 17. These matches demonstrate his ability to score, although the Paris match highlighted the challenges he faces when under concentrated defensive marking.

Barcelona's next European challenge is against Aston Villa on November 3, also at home. Until then, the coaching staff will need to prepare for El Clásico and consider how to create more space for Yamal against individual markers like Hernández.

The 4 out of 10 rating doesn't change Lamine Yamal's role in the team, but it provides a specific reference to what happened in Paris. The upcoming match against Real Madrid will be the first opportunity to respond on the field to the critiques following the PSG clash.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Sin piedad con Lamine Yamal