Lamine Yamal came out on top against fellow Spain star Nico Williams when Barcelona won 2-1 over Athletic Bilbao on Saturday. This was the first match between the two young talents since they led Spain to victory in the European Championship.
Yamal scored the opening goal, and Robert Lewandowski added the second, giving Barcelona two wins from two games to start the Spanish league season.
The Barcelona teenager scored in the 24th minute with a curling shot similar to those Lionel Messi used to make. Yamal controlled a deflected ball, took two touches to move along the edge of the box, and then found an angle to shoot with his left foot.
The ball went into the net after hitting Athletic player Íñigo Lekue. Before and after the game, Yamal and Williams chatted, but Yamal did not disclose their conversation, saying, “we are just good friends.”
He did, however, make a light-hearted remark about his friend when discussing his goal.
“I saw that Nico, who is not very intense while defending, was coming and I found the space I needed to shoot,” Yamal said.
Oihan Sancet equalized in the 42nd minute with a penalty kick after Barcelona’s Pau Cubarsí fouled Alejandro Berenguer.
However, Barcelona kept Williams from making an impact and continued to press until Lewandowski restored their lead. The Polish striker had already hit the bar with a header when he scored in the 75th minute, following a passing move involving Raphinha and Pedri.
Lewandowski had scored twice in Barcelona’s 2-1 win at Valencia in the previous week’s Spanish league opener.
