Barcelona's young star Lamine Yamal is seeking inspiration from NBA legend LeBron James and former teammate Neymar as his team aims to overturn a 2-0 deficit against Atletico Madrid in the Champions League quarter-final second leg. The 18-year-old midfielder changed his Instagram profile picture to an image of James embracing the NBA trophy after the Cleveland Cavaliers' 2016 comeback from 3-1 down in the finals, signaling his hope for a similar turnaround.
Yamal stated at a press conference on Monday: "He's one of the figures who can inspire me for this match. I'll think about how he did it, and hopefully it works out the same for me." He also referenced Neymar's role in Barcelona's historic 2017 comeback against Paris Saint-Germain, where the team won 6-1 at home after a 4-0 away loss, calling Neymar a childhood idol and expressing gratitude for his contributions to football.
Regarding Neymar's potential World Cup inclusion, Yamal added: "He inspires everyone. He's the type of player you'll pay a ticket to watch, and hopefully he will be at the World Cup." Barcelona coach Hansi Flick emphasized confidence in his squad's ability to stage a comeback, saying, "I believe in my team, and I think we can do it. It's possible," while noting the challenge posed by a strong Atletico side.
Flick did not rule out midfielder Frenkie de Jong making his first start after a hamstring injury, highlighting potential lineup changes. On the Atletico side, goalkeeper Jan Oblak could return to the starting lineup after over a month out with a muscle injury, with coach Diego Simeone keeping his cards close, stating he hasn't finalized the starting eleven yet and will decide closer to kickoff.
This match marks the fifth encounter between Atletico and Barcelona in less than two months, with the previous four split evenly across league and cup competitions. The winner will advance to face either Arsenal or Sporting Lisbon in the semi-finals, setting the stage for a high-stakes clash in European football.
With Barcelona's attack featuring Yamal, Ferran Torres, Robert Lewandowski, and Marcus Rashford—though missing Raphinha due to injury—the team faces a formidable Atletico defense. The outcome hinges on execution and seizing opportunities, as both sides vie for a spot in the Champions League semi-finals amid intense rivalry and historical precedents for dramatic turnarounds.
Source: www.aljazeera.com