Barcelona head coach Hansi Flick praised Lamine Yamal, saying the young star has the potential to elevate his game further after the teenager played a key role in their 3-1 victory over Elche on Saturday.
At just 18 years old, Yamal scored his fourth goal in five matches, helping Barça maintain a four-point lead at the top of the LaLiga table ahead of Real Madrid‘s upcoming match against Rayo Vallecano on Sunday. With nine league goals this season—matching his total from last year—Yamal also created eight chances, including one that assisted Marcus Rashford‘s goal.
“It’s crucial for both the team and the club,” Flick said during the post-match press conference. “It’s beneficial for everyone when he plays at the highest level. He is young enough to improve and reach another level, and I believe that will happen.”
Barcelona opened the scoring in the sixth minute with Yamal rounding Elche goalkeeper Iñaki Peña, who is on loan from Barça. However, the home side equalized through Álvaro Rodríguez in the 30th minute.
Ferran Torres netted his 12th LaLiga goal to restore Barcelona’s lead before halftime, and Rashford secured the victory in the 72nd minute, bringing his tally to 10 goals in all competitions since joining from Manchester United last summer.
Despite the win, Barcelona struggled to convert their numerous chances, finishing the match with an expected goals (xG) of 6.52—surpassing the previous highest xG of 5.09 recorded under Flick against Mallorca in 2024. Torres was particularly culpable, accumulating an xG of 3.0, hitting the crossbar twice, while Fermín López, Rashford, and Olmo also squandered opportunities.
When asked if his team’s finishing was a source of frustration, Flick chuckled and responded, “That’s a tough question. What matters is that we secured the three points today. We played a fantastic game, except for our final touches.” He added, “The positive aspect was that we were focused from the start and created many chances. Unfortunately, we missed them, which is disappointing.”
Flick also addressed concerns about Raphinha and Jules Koundé, suggesting their exits from the match were precautionary rather than due to serious injuries.
Midfielder Frenkie de Jong emphasized that Barcelona still has plenty of room for improvement as they continue their campaign across three competitions—LaLiga, the Copa del Rey, and the Champions League—while managing Pedri’s absence. “I don’t think we’ve played our best football yet, but as a team, we’re performing well,” he stated after the match. “We generated many chances tonight, which is encouraging. Typically, we have players who are effective in front of goal; today was just an off day for them. Nonetheless, it’s important to secure three more points. If we keep creating chances, we’ll win more games.”