Unstoppable Barcelona conquer Istanbul

Just when you think you’ve seen everything soccer has to offer, Lamine Yamal comes along and leaves you wondering what on earth to call an impossible piece of skill that both defined and summed up a game that had initially gone badly wrong for Barcelona. The Rocafonda-born star produced some kind of rabona-elastico dribble that will eventually have to be named by someone with a level of imagination comparable to that of Barça’s No. 10.

That pass and Gordon’s goal encapsulated the transformation of a Barcelona team that suffered early in Istanbul but became unstoppable once its star came alive. Barça eventually won 4-1 in a game in which, during the first half, they looked in danger of being swallowed up by the atmosphere inside the stadium. By the end, however, the home crowd could only surrender to a magnificent second-half performance that once again demonstrated just how formidable this team can be when it clicks.

Perhaps not literally unstoppable, as Pau Cubarsí suggested before the game, but certainly capable of punishing you brutally the moment you switch off. Joan Laporta said before kickoff that Barça are currently playing the best soccer in Europe. On this evidence, it was difficult to argue with him.

Hansi Flick neither can nor wants to pretend that the Champions League is anything less than a major objective for Barcelona. The German coach therefore held almost nothing back in Istanbul, with the injured Raphinha the main absentee from what is currently his strongest lineup.

The surprise was Dani Olmo starting as the center forward, allowing Gabriel Jesus to rest. The Brazilian was kept on the bench in case of emergency alongside Karim Adeyemi, who would ultimately make a decisive contribution.

It would be difficult to argue that Flick’s experiment worked brilliantly, at least initially. Olmo struggled to get into the game and looked uncomfortable in the position, losing some of the subtlety he usually provides when playing deeper.

Barcelona’s lack of precision in attack was compounded by a subdued Lamine Yamal, who initially appeared to remain in the low-key mode he had shown in Getafe. That left much of the attacking responsibility with Gordon, who repeatedly ran into an excellent Çakir in the Galatasaray goal.

Galatasaray’s plan was perfectly clear. They looked to withstand Barcelona’s dominance while pressing with an intensity that matched the deafening noise from the stands every time Barça had possession, then attack the space behind Eric García through Rafael Leão.

Predictably enough, the Portuguese winger gave the Barça defender a torrid evening. Before the half-hour mark, Leão burst past Eric and set up Batrakov, who arrived from midfield and beat Joan García with the help of a deflection off a Barcelona defender.

The goal sent the Istanbul cauldron to boiling point, and Barça temporarily lost their way. Lamine remained on the fringes, Rodri struggled to impose himself and the defense began to catch the same uncertainty that had affected Eric.

Then came what appeared to be another major blow.

Following a corner conceded after another Leão break against Eric, Victor Osimhen used his strength to get to the ball and send it toward goal, with Gerard Martín ultimately turning it into his own net as he attempted to clear.

The goal appeared to leave Barcelona in serious trouble, but VAR offered Flick’s team a lifeline. And this is a Barça side that doesn’t waste many second chances. Instead, it uses them as a hammer.

The goal was disallowed for offside and, less than 10 minutes later, fortune favored Barcelona again. A ball that appeared to be lost on the edge of the Galatasaray penalty area was poked away by Olmo through sheer determination. João Cancelo collected it and scored the equalizer, leaving Barça extremely grateful to go in level.

The warning signs of the opening 45 minutes clearly had an effect. Barcelona emerged for the second half like a steamroller, bearing no resemblance to the hesitant team seen before the break.

Such was the force of Barça’s opening to the second half that even the Ali Sami Yen lost some of its ferocity. The stadium fell quiet as a wave of Barcelona attacks crashed over Galatasaray, led by a Lamine Yamal who unleashed a storm over Istanbul.

The half-hour masterclass from arguably the world’s best player was one to remember.

First came a superb assist for Fermín López, who appeared in the No. 9 position and headed home to make it 2-1. Then Lamine truly cut loose, producing a piece of skill that will surely feature in the career highlight reels made for him when he eventually retires many years from now.

It was a play for the archives. For the museum.

From there, the contest was effectively over, although Barcelona had no intention of easing off. Adeyemi came on looking like a caged tiger finally set free and needed just six minutes to score the fourth.

Flick’s Barça may not quite be unstoppable.

Barcelona generated 2.83 expected goals compared with just 0.43 for Galatasaray, a difference that underlined the visitors’ attacking superiority.

Flick’s team attempted 22 shots to Galatasaray’s five and put 11 on target, compared with only three for the Turkish side.

Barça also dominated possession with 71% of the ball, completing 689 passes to Galatasaray’s 273 and recording 154 passes in the final third.

Get closer to the game! Whether you like your soccer of the European variety or that on this side of the pond, our AS USA app has it all. Dive into live coverage, expert insights, breaking news, exclusive videos, and more. Plus, stay updated on NFL, NBA and all other big sports stories as well as the latest in current affairs and entertainment. Download now for all-access coverage, right at your fingertips – anytime, anywhere.

And there’s more: check out our TikTok and Instagram reels for bite-sized visual takes on all the biggest soccer news and insights.