- Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal joked about Nico Williams’ defensive capabilities
- Yamal scored against Athletic Bilbao as Williams looked to close him down
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Lamine Yamal has joked about Nico Williams’ defensive capabilities after scoring for Barcelona against Athletic Bilbao.
Barcelona won 2-1 in the LaLiga clash, with Yamal opening the scoring in the 24th minute despite Williams attempting to close him down.
Oihan Sancet equalised for Athletic from the penalty spot before Robert Lewandowski netted the winner for Barcelona in the second half.
Yamal is close friends with Williams, with the pair having starred during Spain’s Euro 2024 success. They embraced before the game at the Olympic Stadium.
Williams turned down the chance to move to Barcelona this summer as he elected to stay at Athletic.
Barcelona star Lamine Yamal aimed a jibe at Nico Williams after scoring against Athletic Bilbao
Yamal and Williams, who play together for Spain, embraced before the game
Yamal and Williams both featured prominently during Spain’s success at Euro 2024
Yamal, 17, joked that he was confident that he would find the net as Williams is ‘not very intense in defence’.
Yamal told DAZN: ‘My goal? I saw Nico coming to close me down, he’s not very intense in defence, I looked for the gap and went for it. But, we’re very good friends’.
Barcelona have won both of their LaLiga fixtures so far this season – they started their campaign with a 2-1 victory away to Valencia.
Hansi Flick’s side will face Rayo Vallecano away on Tuesday night before hosting Real Valladolid next weekend.
Yamal has made 53 senior appearances for Barcelona so far and has scored eight goals, while he has provided ten assists.
