Sports
Robert Sanchez Causes Stir With Lamine Yamal Comments
Enzo Maresca’s Chelsea produced the performance of the night after beating Barcelona 3-0 in the Champions League and Blues goalkeeper Robert Sanchez has stirred the pot with his post-match comments about compatriot and Barca world-beater Lamine Yamal.
The La Liga outfit were no match for the English behemoths as they locked horns at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday evening: Jules Kounde inadvertently gave Chelsea the lead before Estevao Willian doubled their lead in the 55th minute.
Substitute Liam Delap – in the absence of Joao Pedro – applied the finishing touch with his goal in the 73rd minute. Yamal, for the visitors, was kept quiet from minute one to 90 by Player of the Match Marc Cucurella, and Sanchez referenced their battle in his post-match interview.
Did Estevao Just Prove He’s The Best Teenager on Earth – Ahead of Lamine Yamal?
The Brazilian wowed on a memorable night at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea’s Sanchez Makes Huge Lamine Yamal Claim Following 3-0 Win Over Barcelona
With no evident weak link in their home victory against one of the so-called favourites in the Champions League, all credit must go to Chelsea for thwarting their attacking threat – especially on the right wing from Yamal, who is widely regarded as one of the best players in world football.
Uncharacteristically quiet, the Spanish teenager may have completed the most dribbles (four) in the match but – before being substituted in the 80th minute – he enjoyed 66 touches of the ball, just three of which were inside Chelsea’s 18-yard box. Elsewhere, 50% (4/8) of his dribbles were successful.
And, after the memorable match, Sanchez was quick to suggest that Cucurella did a terrific job in keeping the Ballon d’Or-chasing talent quiet. Simply, in an interview with Spanish outlet El Chiringuito TV, he said:
“[Marc] Cucurella has Lamine Yamal in his pocket.”
According to Marca, highlighting the enviable strength of England’s top flight, Sanchez – whose position in between the sticks for Maresca remains unstable – added: “Everyone looks really good until they come to the Premier League.”
Elsewhere, Maresca believes that Yamal and his very own Estevao will be the replacements for Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. “It has been a fantastic night for the players, for the club, for the fans,” the Italian boss remarked. “As Raphinha said, Estevao and Yamal will probably be the next Messi and Ronaldo.”
A user on Reddit has described Sanchez’s comments as ‘very harsh’ towards one of the world’s very best, while another suggested there would be outrage if this was said by a Barcelona player. “Lmao. Imagine a Barca player saying this after a match.”
Chelsea and Barcelona’s Champions League Prospects
There were very few that foresaw Maresca’s Chelsea beating Hansi Flick’s side so comfortably – but that could point towards what is to come. The west Londoners are now fifth in the 2025/26 Champions League league phase and Barca, who last won Europe’s top table in 2015, are now 15th after their 3-0 defeat at Stamford Bridge.
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Chelsea and Barcelona’s Remaining Champions League Fixtures |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Chelsea |
Barcelona |
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|
Date |
Opponent (H/A) |
Date |
Opponent (H/A) |
|
09/12 |
Atalanta (A) |
09/12 |
Eintracht Frankfurt (H) |
|
21/01 |
Pafos FC (H) |
21/01 |
Slavia Prague (A) |
|
28/01 |
Napoli (A) |
28/01 |
Copenhagen (H) |
Next up for the Premier League side, after three league fixtures, is a visit to Bergamo to lock horns with Atalanta before they host David Luiz‘s Pafos FC on January 21, 2026. For Flick and his entourage, their next Champions League outing will see them play host to Eintracht Frankfurt on December 9. After the turn of the year, they’ll play Slavia Prague away from home before hosting Copenhagen in Spain.
All statistics per FotMob – correct as of 26/11/2025
