Lamine Yamal Run the Show! Barcelona Scatter Espanyol 4-1 for Camp Nou, Nine Points Clear for La Liga

The Baby Don Come of Age — Yamal Control Everything

Some players get game wey dem play and e feel like dem carry the entire stadium for dem shoulder. For Lamine Yamal, Saturday April 11 for Camp Nou na exactly that kind of day. The 18-year-old Spanish boy wey dem dey compare to the greats already — im register two assists and one goal as Barcelona scatter local rivals Espanyol 4-1 to stretch their La Liga lead to nine points. Seven games to go. The title na dem to lose.

This na Yamal 100th La Liga appearance, and to celebrate am, im decide to boss the whole thing. The Camp Nou crowd of 60,736 people no dey disappointed. Dem chant im name, dem sing, dem celebrate every touch the teenager make.

Ferran Torres — The Man Nobody Expected

Before this match, Ferran Torres no score for La Liga since January. People dey ask question about the Spanish winger. But on this day, im answer all the doubters with a brace wey dem go remember.

Just the 10th minute — Yamal swing in corner kick, Ferran Torres leap at the far post and head am into the top left corner. Goal! Espanyol goalkeeper Marko Dmitrovic complain to referee but replay show clean goal. Barcelona 1-0 Espanyol.

Then for the 25th minute, Yamal do something wey only him do regularly — he ping a trivela outside-of-the-boot through ball like im dey play FIFA for control mode. Torres run onto am and roll the ball into the far corner past Dmitrovic. Beautiful. Pure football. Barcelona 2-0 Espanyol, and the game look like it go be comfortable.

Second Half Drama — Espanyol Bite Back

Coach Hansi Flick come out for the second half with five changes from their Champions League match in midweek. Barcelona look like dem relax too early and the second half start sloppy. VAR take away a Torres goal for offside — very tight call. Then Espanyol strike.

Pol Lozano, the Espanyol midfielder, collect the ball just inside the area for the 56th minute and let fly with a powerful right-foot shot. The ball enter. Espanyol 1-2. Suddenly Camp Nou tense. Espanyol push and press, dem create chances to equalize. Barcelona nervous. Dmitrovic keep making saves, dem commit fouls, six yellow cards for the visitors — dem dey dirty fight for am.

But with 20 minutes to go, Flick bring on the cavalry. Marcus Rashford, the Manchester United reject wey Barcelona sign this season, enter the game alongside Joao Cancelo. Cancelo almost score a spectacular solo goal. Rashford miss a big chance with im first touch — Camp Nou groan.

Yamal Seal Am, Rashford Add the Gloss

But in the dying stages, the inevitable happen. 87th minute — Marc Casado play Yamal through on goal. The teenager burst past the Espanyol defence, reach the ball before keeper Dmitrovic, get to it first, and pass am into the open net. Camp Nou explode. 3-1. Calm am down, na stadium of Barcelona dem don seal.

Then 89th minute — Frenkie de Jong, who just return from hamstring injury and come on as substitute, scan the box and find Rashford with a beautiful through ball. The Englishman volley am into the far corner. 4-1. Party time for Camp Nou.

What This Mean for La Liga Title

Real Madrid draw 1-1 against Girona on Friday night. Barcelona win 4-1 on Saturday. The gap now nine points with seven games remaining. The two clubs still get one direct Clasico to play, but mathematically, Barcelona dey firmly in control.

For Rashford, this na im 12th goal of the season for Barcelona in all competitions — proof that the fresh start outside Manchester don do am well. For Yamal — 15 La Liga goals this season on his 100th appearance. Unbelievable.

Coach Hansi Flick also dey look at Tuesday with one eye — Barcelona go face Atletico Madrid in the Champions League quarter-final second leg, with Atleti leading 2-0 from the first game. So while the title party dey close, European survival come first.

Final Score: Barcelona 4-1 Espanyol
Goals: Torres (10, 25), Lozano (56), Yamal (87), Rashford (89)
Venue: Spotify Camp Nou | Attendance: 60,736