Lamine Yamal is 'so good' but Pedri 'makes the difference' for Barcelona, says Bayer Leverkusen star

Hansi Flick's debut season saw Barcelona win La Liga, Copa del Rey and the Supercopa de Espana, while coming agonisingly close to reaching the Champions League final. Barca, as such, marked their return to Europe's creme de la creme. A memorable 2024-25 season, however, was preceded by years of mediocrity, with the Catalans struggling to stay the same force to be reckoned with both domestically and in Europe. 

Barcelona's resurgence can be credited to many players, but Pedri and Yamal have been perhaps the two most central figures in the starting XI. The midfield maestro has left many in awe with his unparalleled impact in the middle of the pitch, which saw him earn Ballon d'Or shouts. 

Meanwhile, Yamal was the chief instigator of chaos in the final third with his mazy dribbles, eagle-eyed vision, and sniper-like precision in front of goal. The 18-year-old finished second only to Ousmane Dembele in this year's Ballon d'Or rankings, a testament to the teenager's limitless potential.

Speaking to Sport, Leverkusen midfielder Garcia shared his thoughts on Spanish national team-mates Pedri and Yamal and was lavish in his praise for the duo. 

"For me, Pedri is the key: he gives meaning to the game, accelerates or slows down when necessary, and improves his teammates," the former Girona star explained when asked what makes Pedri so decisive. "He is at an incredible level and makes Barca flow. Then, the tactical work of the coaching staff enhances that, but Pedri makes the difference," he added.

Yamal has had the world at his feet at such a young age. When asked how can one manage the "boom" of a teenage footballer attaining superstardom, Garcia stated: "In addition to his abilities, I'm impressed by how he handles the pressure. He's under the microscope, but when he steps onto the pitch, he forgets everything and performs. I enjoy watching him with the national team: he's incredible. We have to take care of him and take it slow, but every game shows that we can demand a lot from him because he's so good."

The Catalan side have lost their previous two games heading into this week's away match against Real Oviedo. With Yamal out injured, the onus will be on the likes of Raphinha, Marcus Rashford, and Ferran Torres to help Barca register their third win on the bounce and break the losing streak at the Carlos Tartiere Stadium on Thursday.