Lamine Yamal faces scrutiny after Barcelona rout Elche

Barcelona’s emphatic start to the season has been overshadowed by concern over Lamine Yamal’s form and his reaction to being taken off against Elche. The forward struggled to influence the match, then appeared deeply frustrated on the substitutes’ bench and shed tears after leaving the pitch. Teammates and members of the staff moved to comfort him.

Barcelona defeated Elche 5-0 on Sunday, with Raphinha scoring twice from the centre-forward role and Fermin Lopez also claiming a double. Karim Adeyemi scored his first official goal for the club, while substitute Anthony Gordon supplied two assists. Yamal, however, finished without a goal or assist and was replaced by Gordon in the 65th minute.

His performance was viewed as a sharp contrast to the attacking display around him, increasing attention on a difficult period since the 2026 World Cup. The reason for his frustration remains unclear. Some linked it to the situation involving his close friend Alejandro Baldé, whose future at Barcelona is uncertain, while others saw it as a continuation of Yamal’s recent struggles.

Barcelona’s result provides a strong team platform, but Yamal now has an immediate chance to respond when the club faces Athletic on Thursday.