It was a night that belonged to Barcelona. Four goals, three goalscorers, and one foot already in the UEFA Champions League semi-finals. The 4–0 demolition of Borussia Dortmund had everything: a vintage Robert Lewandowski brace, a masterclass from Raphinha, and another historic goal by 17-year-old Lamine Yamal.
But amid the brilliance and celebration at the Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys, one moment of uncertainty crept in—Yamal signaled to be substituted late in the game, sparking widespread concern among fans and pundits alike. He had just etched his name into the record books again and was smiling when he left the pitch—but what really happened? Hansi Flick, as always, had the answer.
The Spanish teenager’s name was already echoing around Montjuïc by the 77th minute. After receiving a smart pass from Raphinha on the left, the winger toe-poked a cool finish into the far corner to make it 4-0. At 17 years and 270 days, Yamal became the third-youngest player in Champions League history to score in a quarter-final or beyond, trailing only Bojan Krkic and Jude Bellingham.
But just five minutes later, the mood shifted. Yamal reached for the back of his left leg and gestured toward the bench. Dortmund had a corner, so the substitution was delayed, but eventually, Ansu Fati came on in the 87th minute. The home crowd stood up in unison, roaring their appreciation for a teenager who had again delivered a big-game performance well beyond his years.
Despite his smile as he exited, questions swirled. Was it a serious injury? Was this fatigue? Could Barcelona be facing the season’s most untimely blow?
What did Hansi Flick say?
Speaking to Movistar+ after the game, Barcelona boss Hansi Flick moved quickly to ease any fears. “Lamine Yamal has no injury, he’s fine,” Flick assured. “He’s played a lot of minutes recently and so it was good to rest a bit. It’s important for Ansu Fati to get minutes, he’s training well, and he deserved to play. It was good for Lamine to rest and also for Ansu Fati to play.”
Yamal’s exit, it turns out, was a precaution rather than a necessity, a wise decision with Barcelona juggling ambitions on multiple fronts. And with the teenager already logging heavy minutes in recent weeks—including his standout displays against Napoli and Atlético Madrid—managing his workload was both a medical and tactical decision.
As per multiple Spanish media, he will be monitored during Thursday and Friday’s training sessions, and he may be rested for Saturday’s La Liga clash against Leganes.
