Barcelona 0-3 Chelsea in the Champions League at Stamford Bridge, where Lamine Yamal became the target of concentrated boos from the Chelsea faithful.
The duel on the left flank between the two sides had its own narrative: Yamal vs. Marc Cucurella—national team teammates, two generations of players, with the same goal: to outdo each other in a high-stakes environment. Meanwhile, a hurtful yet telling chant echoed from the Chelsea stands: “You're just sh*t Lamine Yamal.”
The Blues fans’ chant was clearly intended to unsettle the young Barcelona winger. Every time he touched the ball, the stadium erupted with whistles, jeers, and the repeated chorus. Despite being only 18 and accustomed to the spotlight, Yamal tried to remain unaffected, but the hostile atmosphere pushed his duel with Cucurella to extreme intensity.
The Chelsea full-back saw this match as a personal challenge. He knew Yamal’s abilities better than anyone—having witnessed them in training and matches with the Spanish national team. Thus, he took the field fully focused, aggressive, and with a clear plan. He prevented Yamal from turning comfortably, blocked his cutting-in routes, and applied tight marking from the first tackle. Every time Yamal gained possession, he faced physical contact, a leg, a shoulder—constant disruption. Cucurella played a pivotal role in the first half, delivering the assist for Chelsea’s goal and forcing Ronald Araújo’s red card.
