LBarcelona, October 19, 2025 — Axel Witsel Hails Lamine Yamal After Catalan Derby Masterclass
In a Catalan derby that had both fans and pundits buzzing, Girona FC’s Belgian midfielder Axel Witsel could not hide his admiration for a young FC Barcelona star who, in his words, “completely dominated the game.”
Following Girona’s 2–1 defeat at the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys, the veteran midfielder praised Lamine Yamal, the 18-year-old sensation who continues to light up LaLiga.
“He really is a monster in this Barça team,” Witsel admitted after the match. “Everyone in the dressing room was talking about him. He’s probably their best player this season.”
The clash, part of matchday nine of LaLiga, was played at high intensity from start to finish. Barcelona, led by Hansi Flick, secured victory with a stoppage-time goal — but it was Yamal who truly stole the spotlight.
The teenage winger opened the scoring in the 20th minute with a stunning curling shot after a dazzling dribble, tormenting Girona’s defense all evening. “Axel couldn’t stop talking about Lamine,” said a source close to the Girona squad, describing the Belgian’s amazement at the youngster’s maturity and explosiveness.
Since joining Girona in 2024, Witsel has provided calm and experience in midfield. Yet even he admitted that Yamal was impossible to contain.
“He’s only 18, but he plays like he’s 30. His speed, vision, and confidence — he’s a monster,” Witsel said in the mixed zone, still riding the adrenaline of the match.
Yamal’s brilliance helped Barça extend their winning streak to seven games, keeping them just two points behind league leaders Real Madrid.
Girona fought bravely, with Bryan Gil equalizing in the 38th minute, but Ronald Araújo’s header deep into stoppage time sealed the win for Barcelona. Despite the loss, Witsel was clear about who made the difference:
“Everyone in the locker room mentioned him. It’s not just the goal — it’s how he reads the game, how he moves off the ball. He’s special,” he said, recalling battles with young talents like Erling Haaland earlier in his career.
A graduate of La Masia, Yamal has been in sensational form this season, already registering seven goals and nine assists in all competitions. Flick has called him “the future of Barça,” but for Witsel, the future has already arrived.
“When I was at Atlético, I saw talented youngsters, but this kid is something else,” Witsel said with admiration. “He’s probably their best player this season.”
The derby, played in front of more than 50,000 fans, was a showcase of LaLiga’s next generation of stars. As Girona prepare for a crucial clash against Valencia, Witsel is already thinking about how to stop players like Yamal in the future.
“We have to learn from this. If we want to compete for Europe, we need to be ready for players like him — real monsters,” he reflected.
For his part, Lamine Yamal remained humble after receiving praise from the seasoned Belgian.
“Axel is a legend — his words mean a lot,” Yamal said. “I just want to keep helping the team.”
With Yamal in full flight, Barcelona fans have little doubt: every match he plays promises something special.
