Has Lamine Yamal finally managed to refocus his attention on football? The young Barcelona winger, who had recently been caught up in a string of off-field distractions, appeared to have put all that behind him last night — and what better way to prove it than by finding the back of the net once again? His goal not only signalled a personal resurgence but also seemed to restore momentum to his club’s campaign.
Barcelona defeated Elche 3–1 in their La Liga clash on Saturday night, with Yamal opening the scoring. His early strike set the tone for the Catalan giants, who went on to dominate possession and chances throughout the match. Midfielder Fermín López and forward Marcus Rashford — continuing his impressive loan spell with the club — added two more goals to seal the comfortable win. Elche’s consolation came through Rafa Mir, who managed to slip the ball past Marc-André ter Stegen midway through the second half.
The victory narrowed the gap at the top of the table, bringing Barcelona within five points of league leaders Real Madrid. After eleven matches, Xavi Hernández’s side sit second in the standings with 25 points, while Real Madrid, managed by Xabi Alonso, lead with 30.
| Team | Matches Played | Points | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| Real Madrid | 11 | 30 | 1st |
| Barcelona | 11 | 25 | 2nd |
The win will provide a significant boost for Barcelona after a somewhat inconsistent start to the season, and Yamal’s return to scoring form could not have come at a better time. If the youngster maintains his composure both on and off the pitch, he may once again become one of the club’s most valuable assets in their title chase.