Lamine Yamal's duel to silence the Bernabéu (again)

Sant Joan DespíLamine Yamal's stature, despite being only 18 years old, is such that in matches where he doesn't single out his defenders, they often automatically become part of their team's heroes. Such was the case with Álvaro Carreras, a player who came through the ranks of Real Madrid and left Real Madrid in 2020 to head to Manchester United's reserve team. He played for Preston, Granada, and Benfica, before returning to Real Madrid this summer with Xabi Alonso for €50 million.

It was precisely last season, with Benfica, when Carreras and Lamine Yamal crossed paths. The 22-year-old defender from Ferrol stopped a rising Barça star during the first leg of the Champions League round of 16 at the Estadio da Luz (0-1) and, above all, in the La Liga phase against the Catalans (4-5 in favor of Hansi Flick's team). The full-back is stifling under pressure and physically dominated Rocafonda's wing.

In the round of 16 match, he demonstrated great defensive solidity and showed off his 186 cm height. He was able to contain a more modest Lamine Yamal than usual. Consequently, Flick replaced the Catalan in the 56th minute, after two successful dribbles (out of two produced) and eight losses of possession. Elsewhere, in the group stage, Barça also faced Benfica in a thrilling match in which Carreras's runs, poorly monitored by Lamine Yamal, wreaked havoc on Szczesny's goal.

Asked about this issue before the match, Marcus Sorg, who will replace the suspended Hansi Flick on the bench at the Santiago Bernabéu, recalled that of the three times Barça faced Benfica last season, the Blaugrana emerged "victorious in all three." "Lamine Yamal is always motivated," explained the assistant coach who, like Xabi Alonso, will be officiating his first Clásico. However, Carreras didn't play in the third of these matches due to an accumulation of yellow cards.

One of Xabi Alonso's bets

While Lamine Yamal is the star of the Barça squad this season, in which he renewed his contract, earning 15 million net per season and inheriting the iconic Barça number 10, Carreras has carved out a place in Real Madrid's starting lineup ahead of Fran García and Ferland Mendy. The former Benfica player has played the full eight of the nine La Liga matches this season, and in the one he didn't complete, he played 82 minutes. In the Champions League, he played the full 90 minutes against Marseille and Juventus and was rested against a weak Kairat Almaty. Although it's also true that Carreras has had mediocre performances against Atlético Madrid and, more recently, against Getafe and Juventus.

Both Lamine Yamal and Carreras will play their own derby. The Barça star will silence those who question his inconsistent performances in recent matches, also marked by pubic problems. The Real Madrid defender will seek to confirm Xabi Alonso's confidence and insistence in signing him. The manager, in the build-up, wanted to take the pressure off his player, when asked about the Lamine Yamal and Carreras duel: "Everyone, both defensively and offensively, must be decisive individually and collectively."

The Ferrol player's value has increased, according to the specialized website Transfermarkt, from €7 million to €50 million currently, an evolution that has taken place in just over a year. He will now play his first Clásico in the top flight, although he had already faced the Blaugrana while defending Granada. Lamine Yamal, who has heated up the pre-match by saying that Real Madrid is "clothing" [referring to the refereeing], He scored three goals (one of them at the Bernabéu) and provided two assists in four Clásicos last season.