Lamine Yamal Bags Double in Barça’s Commanding 5–0 Victory Over Como
Lamine Yamal bolstered his growing Ballon d’Or credentials with an impressive two-goal performance as Barcelona demolished Italian side Como 5-0 in the Joan Gamper Trophy match on Sunday. The annual fixture, held at the Johan Cruyff Stadium, served as the final preseason game for the reigning LaLiga champions.
The 18-year-old forward found the net once in each half, displaying composure and sharp finishing that highlighted his rising stardom in world football. His first goal came just before the halftime whistle, while his second—an elegant first-time finish with his left foot from a Ferran Torres assist—arrived shortly after the break, capping off a dominant display by the Catalan giants.
Midfielder Fermín López opened the scoring early in the first half and added a second moments later, giving Barcelona a strong lead. Brazilian winger Raphinha also got in on the action, netting a well-placed goal before halftime to make it 4-0 going into the interval.
Barcelona’s convincing victory over the newly promoted Serie A side marks their third consecutive preseason win under new manager Hansi Flick, following a successful tour of South Korea that saw triumphs against Vissel Kobe and FC Seoul.
With the competitive season set to begin, Barcelona now turn their attention to their LaLiga title defense, which kicks off this Saturday with an away match against Mallorca.
Yamal’s standout performance adds weight to his case for this year’s Ballon d’Or. He joins a list of high-profile nominees that includes teammate Raphinha, Paris Saint-Germain’s Ousmane Dembélé, and Real Madrid star Kylian Mbappé. The prestigious award is scheduled to be presented on September 22 at the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris.
