Barcelona’s assistant coach, Marcus Sorg, believes young winger Lamine Yamal will turn criticism into motivation when the Catalans face Real Madrid in Sunday’s El Clásico at the Santiago Bernabeu.
The 18-year-old has been under scrutiny after joking in a livestream that Madrid “steal” and “complain,” comments that drew backlash from fans in the Spanish capital.
“Lamine is a top player, and I think the criticism will be motivating for him,” Sorg told reporters during Saturday’s press conference. “I hope we all see his best performance tomorrow.”
Yamal, who has been a standout performer for Barcelona this season, will likely face Madrid left-back Álvaro Carreras, a player he found challenging during Barcelona’s meetings with Benfica in last season’s Champions League.
“Lamine is always motivated,” added Sorg. “If I remember correctly, we won all three games against Benfica.”
With Hansi Flick serving a suspension after receiving a red card during the Girona win, Sorg will take charge from the sidelines. “Hansi’s absence is a disadvantage, of course. But everyone knows what he expects, and we’ll deliver,” he said.
Barcelona will be without Raphinha, who suffered a setback in his recovery from a hamstring injury. However, Jules Kounde trained on Saturday and could return to action, while Ferran Torres may also feature.
Several key players — including Robert Lewandowski, Dani Olmo, and Gavi — remain sidelined through injury.
The Blaugrana head into the clash aiming for a fifth consecutive victory over their fierce rivals, while Real Madrid, led by Kylian Mbappé, hope to end Barca’s recent dominance in the fixture.
