Barcelona have a very important game waiting for them tonight as they take on the Madrid-based Rayo Vallecano at the Montjuic Stadium. A win in this game will allow the Blaugranes to get back at the top of the league table, having lost the leadership right before the Christmas break.
However, it will also be an important match for the visitors, who will be looking to maintain their winning run in the league after the last three consecutive victories, and also to finish within the first six spots to qualify for a European competition for the next season.
But one player who will be particularly excited about this game will be Gerard Gumbau, who began his top-level career at FC Barcelona under Luis Enrique.
The now 30-year-old midfielder spoke to Mundo Deportivo to preview the upcoming match between his current and former sides, and one of the most prominent comments he made was about the 17-year-old Blaugrana sensation, Lamine Yamal.
The Rayo midfielder highlighted how Yamal excels both in individual and team aspects:
“Honestly, it seems surreal to watch this kid play. It looks like he’s been playing at this level his whole life with the way he understands the game. Beyond his individual quality, what surprises me the most is his tactical awareness—he always knows exactly what his teammates need and delivers the perfect final pass.”
“He’s doing something that’s very hard to measure, and we don’t know where his ceiling is. If he keeps this up, he could become the best in the world.”
This is quite an interesting observation made by the former Barcelona midfielder, as in addition to advancing the ball forward with his dribbling skills, Yamal also has a very good decision-making ability and usually finds his teammates in dangerous areas.
This combination makes him one of the most dangerous wingers in Europe, but Gumbau will certainly instruct his teammates to ensure they do not allow Yamal to play his best game tonight.
