BARCELONA — Lamine Yamal is looking to the resilience of LeBron James and the magic of Neymar to help drive Barcelona's quest for a Champions League comeback against Atletico Madrid on Tuesday.
Following a 2-0 defeat in the first leg of the quarterfinals, the 18-year-old forward is seeking mental cues from sports icons to overcome a significant deficit.
Yamal recently updated his Instagram profile with an image of James celebrating the Cleveland Cavaliers' 2016 NBA title, a victory achieved after trailing 3-1 in the series.
“He’s one of the figures who can inspire me for this match,” Yamal said during a news conference on Monday. “I’ll think about how he did it, and hopefully it works out the same for me.”
Chasing the 6-1 legacy
The youngster also cited Neymar as a primary influence, specifically referencing the historic 6-1 victory Barcelona secured against Paris Saint-Germain in 2017.
“I’ve watched [the 6-1 match] several times, and I watched it live as well,” Yamal said. “Neymar is a player who was very important for me during my childhood. He’s my idol.”
Yamal expressed hope that the 34-year-old Brazilian striker, currently playing for Santos, will secure a spot in Brazil's World Cup squad.
“He inspires everyone,” Yamal added. “He’s the type of player that you’ll pay a ticket to watch him play... Hopefully, he will be at the World Cup.”
Barcelona coach Hansi Flick remains optimistic about overturning the deficit despite facing a formidable Atletico side.
“I believe in my team, and I think we can do it. It’s possible,” Flick said. “We have to take our chances, as that was the difference in the first leg.”
Flick noted that midfielder Frenkie de Jong could potentially make his first start following a recent hamstring injury.
Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone has not confirmed his starting lineup but hinted at the possible return of goalkeeper Jan Oblak.
Oblak has been sidelined since March 10, but has participated in recent training sessions. Simeone stated, “We are convinced of what we need, and we’ll play the game we need to.”
Barcelona's attack features Yamal alongside Robert Lewandowski, Ferran Torres, and Marcus Rashford, though they will be without Raphinha due to injury.
If Barcelona advances, they will face either Arsenal or Sporting Lisbon in the semifinals.