Lamine Yamal tips Barcelona as new Champions League favourites after Liverpool exit

Barcelona’s winger Lamine Yamal has tipped his team as the new Champions League favourites after league phase topper Liverpool was knocked out by PSG Saint Germain in the round of 16. The young prodigy reckons it is imperative to think they are the best team and they must back it by playing their best football.

The Spaniard reckons they are the only team who can breathe down the neck of 15-time champions Real Madrid and vice-versa.

Barca had finished second in the Champions League’s league phase behind Liverpool with six wins in eight matches, one loss, and one draw.

The Catalan club will take on the previous season’s runners-up Borussia Dortmund in the quarterfinal. Barca could face Inter Milan or Bayern Munich in the semis and they could meet Real Madrid, Arsenal, PSG or Aston Villa in the summit clash.

“We shouldn’t fear anyone,” Barça winger Yamal told Diario Sport when asked about a possible showdown with 15-time winners Madrid.

“I said that Liverpool were the favourites because they finished first in the league phase and then came us. I don’t fear any team. We are the side that does the most damage to Madrid, and vice versa.

“If you think you’re not favourites, you’re already starting to lose. Don’t think teams can beat you. Think that you’re the best team, play the best football and have the best chance of winning.”

Barca made a comeback after going down 4-2 against Atletico Madrid in the semifinal of Copa Rel Dey to end the first leg at 4-4. Earlier in January, Hansi Flick’s team had bounced back after being 4-2 down to win by 5-4 against Benfica.

“The feeling I have is that I am part of a winning team,” Yamal added. “Last year against Atlético, a game like Sunday, we don’t turn that around.

“The same goes for that match against Benfica. We have the feeling that we are winners and we want more and more.”

Barcelona will next take on Osasuna on 27th March.