Although Real Madrid are Barcelona’s arch-rivals, Lamine Yamal caused a surprise by listing them among the top contenders for the 2025/26 Champions League title.
Lamine Yamal is showing rapid maturity both in his style of play and his competitive mindset. Ahead of Barcelona’s Champions League group stage opener against Newcastle, the 18-year-old shared several notable remarks with Mundo Deportivo. Not only did he speak about his personal ambitions, but he also surprised many by including Real Madrid — Barça’s eternal rival — in his list of leading title contenders.
When asked about his personal goals for the new season, Yamal did not hesitate to share: “I want to keep developing, help the team score goals and provide assists, as well as fight for all the trophies we are competing for.”
Yamal also expressed his determination to take Barcelona deep into this season’s Champions League, especially after last year’s bitter semi-final defeat to Inter Milan. He viewed that loss as a valuable lesson: “In the Champions League, any mistake you make comes at a cost. You have to be more consistent and never lose focus.”
When it came to naming the contenders for the Champions League title, Yamal was straightforward in listing five of the toughest teams: “Manchester City or Liverpool, Bayern Munich, Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain… They are always there.” Including Real Madrid — Barcelona’s eternal rival — in this list surprised many, but it also reflected the young player’s objectivity and maturity in how he views football.
Although he acknowledged the fierce competition from Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid in La Liga, Yamal remained optimistic: “Both are very competitive teams, but I think that in the end, if we do our job well, victory will depend on us.”
Despite Real Madrid being Barcelona’s archrival, Lamine Yamal raised eyebrows by listing them among the top contenders for the 2025/26 Champions League crown.
Ahead of Barça’s group-stage opener against Newcastle, the 18-year-old talent shared his ambitions with Mundo Deportivo. Yamal stated:
“I want to keep developing, score goals, provide assists, and fight for every trophy we’re competing for.”
Reflecting on last season’s bitter semifinal loss to Inter Milan, he admitted it was a valuable lesson:
“In the Champions League, every mistake comes at a cost. You must stay focused and never disconnect.”
When asked about the main challengers, Yamal named: “Manchester City, Liverpool, Bayern Munich, Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain… they’re always there.” Including Madrid in the list shocked many but highlighted his objectivity and maturity.
On the domestic front, Yamal remained confident:
“Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid are strong, but if we do our job well, the outcome will depend on us.”
Barcelona kick off their Champions League campaign against Newcastle — a side they’ve beaten three times in four European clashes. The last meeting came in 2003, with Barça winning 2-0 at St James’ Park.
With a rising generation of talents and coach Hansi Flick at the helm, Barcelona are aiming higher than last season. At just 18, Lamine Yamal is seen as the new face of Blaugrana — a generation blessed with both talent and hunger to rewrite history.
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