The 16-year-old player saved Barca.

Spanish midfielder Lamine Yamal opened the scoring and then scored the winning goal to help Barca draw 3-3 with Granada in round 24 of La Liga.

Yamal had a successful game individually, becoming the top scorer under 17 in La Liga history with three goals. Before scoring a brace against Granada, Lamine scored his first league goal in a 2-2 draw against the same opponent in October 2023.

The previous record for the most goals scored by a player under 17 in La Liga belonged to Ansu Fati and Iker Muniain with two goals each, while Fabrice Olinga and Xisco Nadal each scored one. Lamine could potentially break this record as he will turn 17 on July 13th.

Yamal dribbles past the Granada defense during a La Liga matchday 24 game at the Olimpic Lluis Companys stadium in Barcelona on February 11. Photo: FC Barcelona

Lamine rose through the ranks of the renowned La Masia academy and made his first-team debut, coming on as a substitute for Gavi in ​​a 4-0 win against Betis in April 2023. He holds several records, including being the youngest player to play for Barca (15 years, nine months, and 16 days), the youngest player to start for Barca (16 years and 38 days), the youngest player to provide an assist in La Liga (16 years and 45 days), and the youngest player to start in Champions League history (16 years and 83 days). At the end of 2023, Lamine signed a new contract until June 2026 with a release clause worth one billion euros, equivalent to $1.05 billion.

At the Olimpic Lluis Companys stadium – Barca's home ground this season after Camp Nou was renovated – on February 11th, Lamine opened the scoring in the 14th minute with a close-range tap-in from a cross by Joao Cancelo.

Then, in the 43rd and 60th minutes respectively, Facundo Pellistri – a player currently on loan at Granada from Man Utd – assisted Ricard Sanchez to equalize and then finished from close range to put the visitors ahead. At 22 years and 53 days old, Pellistri became the youngest player to both score and assist in an away match against Barca in La Liga since Samuel Eto'o, who was 19 years and 30 days old in April 2000.

In the 63rd minute, Robert Lewandowski scored from a pass by Ilkay Gundogan, and then Ignasi Miquel - a player who once trained at La Masia academy - restored Granada's lead.

Lewandowski celebrates the equalizer goal for Barca in the 63rd minute, making it 2-2. Photo: FC Barcelona

Barcelona's defense continues to be shaky, conceding 23 goals in 11 matches across all competitions in 2024, more than any other team in Europe's top five leagues. Frosinone in Serie A is second with 22 goals conceded in seven matches.

The 3-3 draw leaves Barca stuck in third place, ten points behind Real Madrid at the top of the table. On February 17th, Xavi's team will travel to Celta Vigo.

Starting lineup :

Barca : Ter Stegen, Kounde, Cubarsi, Inigo Martinez, Cancelo (Raphinha 75), De Jong, Christensen (Fermin 67), Gundogan, Yamal, Pedri (Guiu 89), Lewandowski.

Granada : Batalla, Maouassa, Miquel, Rubio, Ricard Sanchez, Hongla, Sergio Ruiz, Gumbau (Torrente 90), Melendo (Callejon 75), Pellistri (Jozwiak 84), Uzuni (Arezo 84).

Hong Duy

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