Yamal: Stunning assist to Raphinha ‘L2’ on FIFA​

Lamine Yamal dished out advice for recreating his “trivela” assist on FIFA after starring in Barcelona‘s 5-1 win against Mallorca in LaLiga on Tuesday.

The 17-year-old returned to the starting lineup for the first time since Nov. 3 after recovering from an ankle injury as Barça ended a three-game winless run in the league.

He won the penalty that led to Barça’s second goal and then set up Raphinha for the third with a sublime pass with the outside of his boot, which he pointed out can be easily recreated on PlayStation.

“I think the button on FIFA is L2 [for the trivela pass],” he told Esport3 after the match. “It is something I can do quite well, something I usually do and something I will keep doing.”

It’s the second time this season that Yamal, who has a league-high eight assists, has teed up Raphinha with the outside of his boot. He played a similar pass, albeit from a much longer distance, in the win over Villarreal earlier in the season.

“I am really happy for Raphinha, we have a good understanding,” Yamal said. “And he knows when I am in that area of the pitch, I will always try that pass.”

Ferran Torres‘ opener was cancelled by Mallorca’s Vedat Muriqi before the break, but Barça pulled clear in the second half courtesy of a brace from Raphinha, his 15th and 16th goals of the season, and strikes from substitutes Frenkie de Jong and Pau Víctor.

De Jong’s goal, set up by Victor, also came after Yamal had played another pass in behind the Mallorca defence with the outside of his boot.

The win moved Barça four points clear at the top of LaLiga, although second-placed Real Madrid have two games in hand, starting with Athletic Club on Wednesday.

“It was a really important win after two defeats [in three games] in LaLiga,” Yamal said. “So it was important to win with a result like this. We are really happy.

“We have been good in the Champions League, but in LaLiga we were dropping silly points. This was a big win for everyone. The goals for those that play less will give them a lot of confidence.”

Barça have now won all 12 league games that Yamal has started this season. They have failed to win any of the four when he has not been in the starting lineup — losing three and drawing one.

“Lamine is always important,” coach Hansi Flick said of the teenager’s return to fitness. “With his quality, he is a huge difference in our team. He also could score today one or two goals.”

Flick, who rested striker Robert Lewandowski against Mallorca, also joked he was happy to see the back of November after defeats to Real Sociedad and Las Palmas and a draw against Celta Vigo.

“Today was really important to win this match,” he added. “We deserve this win, these three points. We created chances, scored [them] and it was really fantastic.

“We are happy. We are happy that s— November is over and now we start with December.”