Mockery on the Front Pages

PSG’s 2-1 victory at the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys sparked euphoria in France. Leading the charge was L’Équipe, which played on the recent Ballon d’Or gala by running the headline “Balones de oro”. The main image featured Vitinha, arms raised in triumph after a standout performance that crowned him one of the night’s heroes.

Tough Ratings for Lamine

French outlets were quick to single out Lamine Yamal as one of the night’s big losers. According to the ratings, the young Barcelona star was completely neutralized by Nuno Mendes, who shone on both ends of the pitch and was praised as the best left-back in the world. Yamal was given just a 5 out of 10, reflecting a night where he failed to make an impact.

Luis Enrique Passes, Flick Fails

The coaches were also under scrutiny. Luis Enrique received glowing reviews and a score of 9 for his tactical plan, while Hansi Flick was slammed with a 3. The German coach’s choices, along with poor showings from Dani Olmo and Frenkie de Jong, highlighted Barcelona’s struggles compared to PSG’s bench strength and game plan.

Echoes Across Other Outlets

Other French publications piled on. Le Provence claimed that “Yamal seemed to lack spark” and noted that PSG fans in Montjuïc chanted “Ousmane Ballon d’Or!” in reference to Dembélé. Meanwhile, RMC Sports praised PSG for delivering such an important win despite missing several attacking stars.