FC Barcelona’s 1-1 draw at Rayo Vallecano left mixed feelings for the Blaugrana. Despite taking the lead through Lamine Yamal, the Catalans couldn’t hold on and ended up sharing the points in the third round of LaLiga EA Sports 2025/26. Beyond the result, the 18-year-old was once again in the spotlight both on and off the pitch.

What Did Lamine Yamal Say After the Game?

The forward was critical of his team’s performance and admitted that Barcelona lacked sharpness:

“It’s always a very difficult stadium, but we lacked intensity. We need to learn from this, and after the international break, we must return with the intensity we had last season and win as much as possible.”

His words reflected the frustration inside the squad after failing to turn an early lead into three points.

How Did He Experience His Goal From the Spot?

Yamal won the penalty himself after being brought down by Pep Chavarría and calmly stepped up to take it:

“I took it because I felt confident. If they trust me, I will keep taking them.”

The goal underlined his maturity despite his young age and seemed to set Barcelona on the path to victory until Fran Pérez equalized in the second half.

What Did He Say About Rayo’s Equalizer?

The 66th-minute goal came from a set piece, leaving Fran Pérez completely unmarked at the far post. Yamal pointed to a lack of communication in defense:

“We didn’t talk to each other. They made the switch and nobody communicated that there was a free man. We need to learn from these situations.”

A Young Leader Finding His Voice

At just 18, Lamine Yamal is not only cementing his place as one of Barcelona’s most decisive players on the field but also showing signs of leadership off it. His post-match remarks after the 1-1 at Vallecas serve as a wake-up call for a Barcelona side that must recover its intensity and cutting edge after the international break.