Barcelona’s 2-0 victory over Espanyol on Thursday night not only secured the La Liga title for the Blaugrana but also ignited controversy, particularly surrounding 17-year-old sensation Lamine Yamal.
Lamine Yamal Under Fire as Espanyol Coach Accuses Teen of Diving
The young winger opened the scoring with a spectacular goal and was later involved in an incident that led to Espanyol defender Leandro Cabrera receiving a straight red card.
Espanyol’s head coach, Manolo González, expressed his displeasure post-match, criticizing Yamal’s reaction to Cabrera’s contact.
“We’re ruining football,” González stated, suggesting that the contact was insufficient to warrant such a reaction and that Yamal exaggerated the incident. He further commented,
“I told Lamine to stop diving. It wasn’t necessary to dive in that action.”
Despite González’s criticisms, Yamal’s performance was instrumental in Barcelona’s triumph. His goal not only showcased his exceptional talent but also played a pivotal role in securing the league title for Barcelona.
The match was marked by high tensions, both on and off the pitch, including a pre-game incident outside the RCDE Stadium that resulted in injuries to several fans.
Barcelona’s manager, Hansi Flick, opted for a subdued celebration, instructing his players to avoid on-field festivities out of respect for the home crowd.
This decision was met with mixed reactions; some viewed it as a gesture of sportsmanship, while others saw it as a missed opportunity to celebrate a significant achievement.
With this victory, Barcelona clinched their 28th La Liga title, adding to their Supercopa de España and Copa del Rey triumphs earlier in the season.
The team now looks ahead to the remaining fixtures with confidence, while Espanyol faces a challenging battle to avoid relegation, sitting just five points above the drop zone with two games remaining
