Barcelona recover from difficult start inside Turkey to seal commanding 4-1 victory over Galatasaray for Champions League. Hansi Flick men no allow early pressure spoil their night. The hosts first put Barcelona under intense pressure, and Leao set up im side only goal of the game during competitive first half. But after interval, Catalan giants flip the script.
Yamal na di ultimate architect of that second-half turnaround. Im carve open Galatasaray defence in one-on-one situations, register two crucial assists, and secure di points. After final whistle, Leao tell TNT Sports Brasil say e admire di Spanish teenager well well. Di Portugal international tip di youngster for game ultimate individual prize. ‘I hope Lamine Yamal wins di Ballon d'Or and major titles with Barca,’ Leao talk. He also hail di teenager character and di environment wey dey nurture im rapid development. ‘He is among di best players in di world. He is someone I hold in very high regard, both as a footballer and as a person,’ Leao add. ‘He is surrounded by good players at an extraordinary club.’
Di Champions League encounter serve as fascinating reunion, given Barcelona past interest in Leao. Di Blaugrana monitor di Portuguese forward closely across multiple transfer windows, view am as prime candidate to bolster their left flank. But ultimately, move to Catalonia never materialise. While Leao continue to prove im attacking pedigree in Turkey, Yamal don firmly establish imself as di defining player of Barcelona new era.
Armed with Yamal creative brilliance, Barcelona go look to maintain dis devastating attacking form as dem push for further honours under Flick. Di teenager ability to seamlessly unlock defensive lines make di Blaugrana formidable threat in European competition. Meanwhile, Galatasaray and Leao must dust themselves down and refocus their efforts. Despite promising first-half showing, di Turkish giants were ultimately handed harsh lesson by one of world football brightest emerging stars.
Before di Galatasaray test inside Istanbul, Pau Cubarsi hail team-mate Lamine Yamal as di best player in di world and talk say e merit di Ballon d’Or. ‘Everybody in di world already know say he is di best in di world. Although he talk am, people also see am on di field. He deserve di Ballon d’Or,’ Cubarsi tell Marca. Cubarsi also talk say e fit dey around there because of di World Cup and di season, but e dey go more calmly and Yamal more media-focused.
Cubarsi note say you have to dey attentive to small details. ‘Dis stadium everybody know di pressure wey dey felt. E go difficult to get di victory, but we dey look forward to give good level and dey concentrated,’ e talk. E add say e come from playing plenty both for World Cup and at di beginning, and e know di coach dey dose am, but e dey take great care of imself and e willing to play every minute because na wetin e like. On Frenkie, Cubarsi talk say Frenkie get spectacular level, especially for im position. E go get great season. E dey sure say Frenkie go come back with immense desire. E go give plenty level and e very important for everybody say e dey well.
Di Ballon d’Or race for 2026 dey close. In few short weeks, dem go announce winner inside London ceremony wey you fit see live on DAZN. Harry Kane don lead di race for much of di summer, but for recent weeks na Lamine Yamal step inside reckoning as favourite to win dis year award. Di Barcelona teenager na La Liga winner last season and then for summer e capture di World Cup with Spain, credentials wey many believe fit land am di vote. Cubarsi, teammate and fellow Ballon d’Or nominee, don dey champion Yamal case ahead of Barca Champions League clash with Galatasaray. Yamal also been on one-man campaign over international break, proclaiming how much e deserve di Ballon d’Or in series of interviews. Cubarsi acknowledge im countryman efforts ahead of im own credentials for winning football top individual prize. Before either man focus on awards on October 26, dem first get European date inside Istanbul. Cubarsi know what await am and di Catalans inside Turkey, but e confident di unbeaten side go navigate di difficulties. ‘We know their offensive and defensive qualities. We know di field we dey come to and di atmosphere wey dem create. You have to dey attentive to small details. Dis stadium, everybody know di pressure wey dey felt. Pedri already play here and he don tell me say na field wey dey press and dey complicated. E go difficult to get di victory, but we dey look forward to give good level and dey concentrated.’ DAZN streams some of world best and biggest football leagues and cup competitions; subscribe to watch.
