Why Barcelona wonderkid Lamine Yamal left the pitch for nine minutes against Porto and didn’t return in Champions League tie

In a remarkable turn of events during Wednesday’s Champions League match against Porto, Barcelona manager Xavi Hernandez found himself making a crucial decision regarding the substitution of young talent, Lamine Yamal. The 16-year-old player had already made history by becoming the youngest ever to start in a Champions League match, but his time on the pitch was cut short due to unforeseen circumstances.

Yamal’s exit from the game occurred in the 71st minute, leaving many fans puzzled about the sudden change in the lineup. Xavi later shed light on the situation, revealing that the young player was dealing with an unfortunate illness throughout the match. In fact, Yamal had been communicating his discomfort to Xavi prior to the substitution. Seizing an opportune moment during a break in play, Xavi instructed Yamal to make a quick visit to the restroom. However, it soon became clear that the young player wouldn’t be able to return to the pitch, prompting Xavi to bring on Marcos Alonso as a replacement.

“Lamine Yamal was unwell. He had been struggling with an illness, and he had mentioned it to me earlier. When I noticed the chance to send him to the toilet, I encouraged him to make his way there promptly. Regrettably, we were informed that he would be unable to get back on the pitch,” Xavi explained during the post-match press conference.

In addition to Yamal’s unforeseen departure, Barcelona faced two other setbacks during the game. Star striker Robert Lewandowski sustained a “very strong blow” early in the match, leading Xavi to substitute him with Ferran Torres, who eventually secured the victory for Barcelona. Defending player Ronald Araujo also seemed to be in discomfort towards the end of the game, yet Xavi reassured the fans that Araujo’s issue was merely cramps and nothing more serious.

Despite the setbacks, Barcelona’s resilient performance allowed them to secure a notable victory. The team now looks ahead to their upcoming La Liga clash against Granada, set to take place on Sunday, October 8. Fans eagerly await the return of their favorite players, supporting them as they continue to forge their path towards success.