FC Barcelona secured their spot in the 2024-25 UEFA Champions League quarterfinals with a dominant 4-1 aggregate victory over Benfica. With Liverpool now out of the competition, star player Lamine Yamal made a bold statement regarding Barcelona’s chances of winning the prestigious trophy.
The round of 16 saw a few unexpected outcomes, including Liverpool‘s elimination at the hands of Paris Saint-Germain. The Reds were knocked out after a dramatic penalty shootout loss at Anfield. Speaking with Sport, Yamal shared his thoughts on the team’s current standing and how Liverpool’s exit has shifted the competition’s dynamic:
“We are the favorites for the Champions League. When the group stage ended, I said that Liverpool was the favorite because they were first, but now that they are out, it’s us,” the 17-year-old said confidently.
Liverpool had dominated the group stage, winning their first seven matches and conceding the fewest goals of any team. With the Premier League title practically secured, the Champions League was seen as their primary challenge. However, they were ousted by PSG, who managed to neutralize their attack.
Barcelona will face Borussia Dortmund in the quarterfinals in April. But with Liverpool out of the competition, Yamal sees an opportunity for the Catalan club to push for their first Champions League title since 2015.
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Lamine Yamal on Real Madrid
As one of the remaining top contenders in the tournament, Real Madrid is seen as a serious threat after eliminating both Manchester City and Atletico Madrid. However, Yamal made it clear that rather than fearing Real Madrid, he finds matches against Los Blancos exciting.
“I am not afraid of any team. The matches against Real Madrid are always very beautiful, we are the team that causes them the most damage. And vice versa is also true, as they are a great team,” Yamal said in the interview with Sport. “We are a different team compared to last year, when we were knocked out by PSG. We are a family,” he added.
Barcelona have had recent success against Real Madrid, having shocked them twice this season: first with a commanding 4-0 victory at the Santiago Bernabeu and then with a 5-2 win in the Spanish Super Cup, further boosting Yamal’s confidence ahead of any potential meeting with Madrid in the Champions League.
