Lamine Yamal risks wrath of Real Madrid fans again as Barcelona wonderkid sends out defiant message ahead of El Clasico

All eyes will be on Madrid this weekend when Barcelona and Real renew hostilities in La Liga. The Spanish giants have set the pace in 2025-26, occupying the top two spots in the table. Xabi Alonso’s Real sit at the summit after winning eight and losing one of their nine league games this term, while Hansi Flick’s Barcelona are second and just two points behind, having won seven from the same number of fixtures. The Catalan side drew 1-1 with Rayo Vallecano on 31 August, before losing 4-1 to Sevilla earlier this month.

While the fixture does not need any extra hype, extra spice has been added following pre-match comments from Yamal. Igniting controversy before a ball has been kicked, the wonderkid - speaking during a Twitch broadcast on Kings League - made tongue-in-cheek remarks about Real, which have not gone down well at the Bernabeu.

In comments which went viral on social media, when asked by Ibai Llanos - owner of Kings League side Porcinos FC - whether his team reminded him of Real, Yamal said: “Yes, of course, they steal, they complain…”

Prompting laughter from those on the stream, Llanos, a well-known Real supporter, immediately pushed back by asking: “Real Madrid steals?”

Laughing nervously, Yamal then said: “Well, let’s see, let’s see.”

Not content with his cheeky remarks, Yamal has lit the touch paper once again by taking to social media to send a bold message before El Clasico. In a post on his Instagram stories, the Spain international uploaded a picture which sees him blurred out and a sea of angry Real supporters brought into focus. Yamal was victorious in all four Clasico fixtures last season as Barcelona defeated Real twice in La Liga, while they also got the better of their old foes in the Copa del Rey and the Spanish Super Cup.

Yamal and Barcelona head into Sunday’s Clasico in great spirits following their comprehensive 6-1 win over Greek side Olympiacos in the Champions League on Tuesday. The winger recorded one goal and one assist as Flick’s side got back on track in Europe’s elite club competition, having suffered a late 2-1 defeat against defending champions Paris Saint-Germain in their second fixture. Barcelona opened their Champions League campaign with a 2-1 victory over Newcastle on 18 September, with in-form forward Marcus Rashford scoring twice.

While Yamal is set to take to the field against Real, Barcelona manager Flick will not be in the dugout for the affair. The German was sent off in his side’s late victory over Girona last Saturday, receiving two yellow cards in quick succession after angrily protesting over the amount of stoppage time that was added on. Flick subsequently received a one-match ban which was upheld after Barcelona’s appeal was rejected earlier in the week.

Flick, 60, has since said he will try to curb his behaviour on the touchline as he does not want his grandchildren seeing him react the way he did against Girona.

"I don't like seeing myself in this state on television, and I don't want my grandchildren to see their grandfather like that," said Flick. "So I probably have to change my behaviour.

"I remember when I was coach of Bayern Munich, the footage of the match against Barca showed that I had the same reaction to the first, second and eighth goals," said Flick. "People said I never smiled!

"Right now I'm showing more emotion, it's true, because this club has completely changed me.

"Maybe I should control my impulses, but I love Barca, Barcelona and its people, and that's why I always give my all.”

And when asked about Barcelona president Joan Laporta’s remark that a “white hand” played a part in referee Gil Manzano’s decision to send him off - referring to alleged bias towards Real - the former Bayern Munich boss said: "I had nothing against the referee. I wasn't complaining at him but he saw it that way and that's something I have to accept it.”