SOCCER: Yamal says comeback is not impossible as Barca chase history at Atletico

MADRID — Lamine Yamal emphasized on Monday that Barcelona must not view their Champions League quarter-final clash with Atletico Madrid as an insurmountable challenge.

The Catalan side faces a daunting task as they travel to the Metropolitano on Tuesday, trailing 2-0 from the first leg. A comeback would be required for them to avoid elimination from the competition, but Yamal is confident that an extraordinary performance is still within reach.

“We mustn’t think of a comeback as a miracle,” said Yamal during a press conference. “I’ve been lucky enough, since I was a child, to take on more responsibility than I should have. I’m used to it. I just focus on enjoying it, not seeing it as a problem, but as a strength. I’m grateful for everything that’s happening to me.”

Barcelona’s lineup for the second leg will feature several La Masia graduates, with 18-year-old Yamal considered one of the brightest talents to emerge from the academy since Lionel Messi. The winger has already made a name for himself on the international stage, helping Spain win the 2024 European Championship and finishing second in the 2025 Ballon d'Or race.

“It’s very important to have a lot of La Masia players on the pitch for a match like tomorrow’s,” he said. “We’re all home-grown, we all love Barcelona. We know what a moment like this means, and we’ll give it our all until the very end.”

Historically, the odds are not in Barcelona’s favour. Only once in the Champions League has a team come back from a 2-0 first-leg deficit, with Manchester United achieving the feat against Paris Saint-Germain in 2019. Barcelona’s own remarkable comeback in the 2016-17 season, when they overturned a 4-0 first-leg loss to PSG with a 6-1 victory at Camp Nou, remains a rare example.

The situation is even more challenging given Barcelona’s recent struggles. Last month, they were knocked out of the Copa del Rey by Atletico Madrid, losing 4-0 in the first leg at the Metropolitano. Despite a spirited 3-0 win in the return leg, Atletico progressed to the final.

However, Yamal insists that Barcelona will not give up without a fight.

“We promise that, if we’re knocked out, we’ll fight right to the end,” Yamal vowed. “We’ll give our all for this badge. This match will last 90 minutes or more; it’s not over yet. A comeback is very much possible, which is why we’re here.”

As Barcelona heads into this crucial fixture, the young forward's words are a reminder that, even in the face of adversity, the team is determined to fight until the final whistle.

-Reporting by Fernando Kallas, Editing by Christian Radnedge/Reuters