THE BIGGER PICTURE
Las Palmas were fully aware of the threat that Yamal posed to their defensive unit. In a bid to contain him, they did get overly physical at times. Barcelona’s Golden Boy winner did not get the protection from match officials that he was hoping for.
WHAT LAMINE YAMAL SAID
At one point, just before the hour mark, Yamal was caught by Dario Essugo and Alex Munoz. He was left writhing in agony on the turf, but no free-kick was awarded. The youngster has posted an image on social media of his bloodied sock, alongside a tongue-in-cheek “it’s not a foul” statement.
WHAT NEXT?
Yamal is having to grow accustomed to taking the odd knock, with rivals eager to stop him before he gets up to speed. Occasionally, that will mean bending the rules. Referees in Spain need to ensure that one of the hottest prospects in world football is not injured by the rough treatment that he receives.