Real Madrid defeat Inter Milan 2-1 in Champions League opener

Barcelona's 19-year-old forward Lamine Yamal expressed his pride in being a club captain at such a young age. He reiterated that winning the Champions League is his main target for the season and is eager to achieve this goal. He will give his all to secure the title, acknowledging that good players like Anthony Gordon, Karim Adeyemi, and Rodri have joined the squad.

While traditionally, captains are experienced players, Lamine's selection as the fifth in line to wear the captain's armband was surprising. The record for the youngest Barcelona player to be a captain belongs to Bojan Krkic, who achieved this at 20 years and 56 days old. Lamine expressed gratitude to his teammates for the responsibility that comes with the position, stating he is very happy with his role.

Following their recent struggles in the Champions League, with successive eliminations leading to clean sheet failures, there have been discussions about adapting the team's strategy for European success. Manager Hansi Flick emphasized that while they maintain their winning style, adjustments may be made when necessary. He stressed the importance of having all players fit and sharp at the right time to overcome challenges posed by strong opponents like Atletico Madrid.

Barcelona aims to end their 11-year Champions League drought, having narrowly missed the knockout stage in 2025. Their European campaign starts on Wednesday against Feyenoord at Camp Nou.