FC Barcelona secured their spot within the 2024-25 UEFA Champions League quarterfinals with a dominant 4-1 mixture victory over Benfica. With Liverpool now out of the competitors, star participant Lamine Yamal made a daring assertion concerning Barcelona’s probabilities of successful the distinguished trophy.
The spherical of 16 noticed just a few surprising outcomes, together with Liverpool‘s elimination by the hands of Paris Saint-Germain. The Reds have been knocked out after a dramatic penalty shootout loss at Anfield. Talking with Sport, Yamal shared his ideas on the workforce’s present standing and the way Liverpool’s exit has shifted the competitors’s dynamic:
“We’re the favorites for the Champions League. When the group stage ended, I mentioned that Liverpool was the favourite as a result of they have been first, however now that they’re out, it’s us,” the 17-year-old mentioned confidently.
Liverpool had dominated the group stage, successful their first seven matches and conceding the fewest targets of any workforce. With the Premier League title virtually secured, the Champions League was seen as their main problem. Nonetheless, they have been ousted by PSG, who managed to neutralize their assault.
Barcelona will face Borussia Dortmund within the quarterfinals in April. However with Liverpool out of the competitors, Yamal sees a chance for the Catalan membership to push for his or her first Champions League title since 2015.
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Lamine Yamal on Actual Madrid
As one of many remaining high contenders within the event, Actual Madrid is seen as a severe risk after eliminating each Manchester Metropolis and Atletico Madrid. Nonetheless, Yamal made it clear that moderately than fearing Actual Madrid, he finds matches in opposition to Los Blancos thrilling.
“I’m not afraid of any workforce. The matches in opposition to Actual Madrid are all the time very stunning, we’re the workforce that causes them probably the most harm. And vice versa can be true, as they’re an excellent workforce,” Yamal mentioned within the interview with Sport. “We’re a unique workforce in comparison with final yr, after we have been knocked out by PSG. We’re a household,” he added.
Barcelona have had current success in opposition to Actual Madrid, having shocked them twice this season: first with a commanding 4-0 victory on the Santiago Bernabeu after which with a 5-2 win within the Spanish Tremendous Cup, additional boosting Yamal’s confidence forward of any potential assembly with Madrid within the Champions League.
