The upcoming showdown between Chelsea and Barcelona in the Champions League is already heating up, and one of the protagonists is Marc Cucurella. The Spanish full-back spoke after Spain’s recent international match and, jokingly, turned the spotlight on his national teammate Lamine Yamal, whom he described as “the toughest winger to stop.”

Cucurella and the challenge of facing Lamine

The Blues defender, a product of Barça’s academy, admitted it will be a special game for him: “It’ll be a beautiful and special match. We’re playing at home and that’s always a plus. Hopefully it’ll be a tough game for them,” he said.

Cucurella didn’t hesitate to highlight the difficulty of marking Lamine Yamal, with whom he shares training sessions in the Spanish national team: “He’s a very skillful player, you never know what he’s going to do. I’ll try to make things as hard as possible for him, but I can’t injure him either, otherwise I won’t be able to go back to the national team,” he joked.

He also dared to comment on the youngster’s future in the race for the Ballon d’Or: “I’ve got to back my guy. I think Lamine has had a great year, he deserves it. He’s very young, but what he’s doing at his age is incredible.”

A clash with a special flavor

The atmosphere in the Spanish national team camp has also lent itself to banter between Barcelona and Chelsea players. “We’re already teasing each other. They say they’re going to beat us, but I know we’re going to make it difficult for them,” Cucurella revealed.

The full-back, who recently scored his first goal with Spain, knows the pressure will be high but trusts in the London side’s strength at Stamford Bridge. “For me it’ll be a special game, and I’m convinced it will be a great spectacle,” he added.

Meanwhile, Lamine Yamal is recovering well from minor back discomfort suffered in the match against Bulgaria. Luis de la Fuente’s staff took precautions in Sofia with specific work and physiotherapy, and everything points to him being fit to start in Spain’s next game against Turkey.

The countdown to this European clash has begun, and with these kinds of statements, the battle between Chelsea and Barcelona promises not only intensity on the pitch but also a pride-fueled contest between teammates who will now face off on opposite sides.