Inter Milan defender Alessandro Bastoni has acknowledged the challenge of containing Barcelona’s teenage sensation Lamine Yamal ahead of their UEFA Champions League semi-final clash.
Yamal, who boasts Equatorial Guinean and Moroccan heritage through his mother and father respectively, has emerged as a pivotal figure for Barcelona this season, contributing significantly to their attacking prowess.
His performances have been instrumental in Barcelona’s journey to the semi-finals, making him a focal point for Inter’s defensive strategy.
When questioned about plans to neutralize the 17-year-old, Bastoni admitted, “I don’t know. The last time we faced him in the Euros we did not do so well. Barcelona has a very clear identity, but we have to defend as a team against them.”
Despite acknowledging the individual brilliance of opponents like Yamal, Bastoni emphasized Inter’s collective strength.
He stated, “Individually, we are not as strong as the other three semifinalists, but as a team we can beat any of them. If we stop working together, we risk sinking. But we have the ability to unite in difficult times and attack at the right time.”
Inter’s path to the semi-finals included a notable victory over Bayern Munich, marking the German side’s first home defeat in the Champions League in 22 matches.
Bastoni highlighted the team’s unity and resilience following that win, saying, “This win means a lot after a big disappointment in Parma. We can do great things only by playing like this.
“From an individual point of view, there are teams stronger than us – but together we will be annoying for everyone.”
