The three-center-back system, Xabi Alonso’s tactical flexibility, Aurélien Tchouaméni’s potential defensive role, and reinforcements in the areas where Barcelona’s young star thrives. In Catalonia, they are already preparing for the next Clásico.
Lamine Yamal’s breakout season marked a turning point in the battles between Barcelona and Real Madrid. Over the past season, Barcelona’s new number 10 stood out especially against his club’s arch-rival, scoring or assisting in each of the four direct encounters between the two sides and finishing with an impressive tally of three goals and two assists.
Although at times Yamal looked unstoppable, Real Madrid hopes to flip the script in the coming season. “Real Madrid launches its Anti-Lamine Yamal plan,” wrote the Catalan newspaper Sport.
Madrid has strengthened specific areas of the pitch and appointed a new coach, Xabi Alonso, expected to bring more tactical variety. Alonso, who has already experimented with a three-center-back formation at Bayer Leverkusen with much success, could use Aurélien Tchouaméni as a central defender, pushing the full-backs higher up the pitch.
This adjustment would allow greater flexibility mid-match and could serve as yet another attempt to neutralize the threat posed by Lamine Yamal. With this in mind, sports betting fans should remember that even teams that tried similar tactics, like Inter Milan in the Champions League semifinal, could not completely contain him.
This is why the upcoming Clásicos are becoming less about fixed outcomes and more about key matchups. Player performance markets around Yamal have grown in popularity, with odds shifting quickly based on tactical lineups and even in-game adjustments. Bettors looking for value should monitor team news closely, especially when Madrid experiments with new systems. In live betting, Yamal’s ability to turn a quiet game into a goal contribution in seconds often spikes the in-play odds.
Beyond tactical tweaks, Real Madrid has focused on reinforcing the zone where Yamal operates, signing Álvaro Carreras and Dean Huijsen. Huijsen, expected to slot in as a left-sided center-back, is known for his physical and defensive ability against quick players like Yamal. Carreras also showed promise in duels with the Barça star while playing for Benfica, hinting at a potentially fascinating personal battle.
Madrid’s idea, like many clubs, is to employ a double-marking strategy against Yamal. But this approach risks leaving spaces for Barcelona’s other attackers. The problem is that Yamal often manages to create an advantage even against two or three defenders, a quality that Hansi Flick has been exploiting and will likely continue to use.
One of the biggest questions surrounding Yamal is how his game will evolve. Early signs suggest he may gradually move off the touchline and into more central areas which is a transition that other technically gifted wide players, like Lionel Messi, also made, increasing the danger they posed near goal. Improved composure and positioning in front of goal could turn him not just into a creator but into a prolific scorer as well.
Although such a shift usually happens over time, in Yamal’s case it may happen much sooner. Already at just 17 years old, he has shown a remarkable ability to adapt quickly to different roles and spaces. It’s conceivable that as early as next season he could feature not just as a winger but also as an attacking midfielder or even a false nine.
If we look at the numbers: Yamal was the youngest player ever to appear in a Clásico at just 16 years and 107 days. He also became Spain’s youngest-ever goalscorer and youngest-ever starter in Euro qualifying matches that underline just how exceptional his trajectory is.
For Real Madrid, the challenge is not just to stop him in one match, but to build a sustainable defensive approach that can cope with his development. Barcelona’s faith in him seems well-placed, and with each passing month, he seems to add a new layer to his game with sharper decisions, more daring moves, a greater sense of when to drift into dangerous spaces.
Next season’s Clásico promises to be another chapter in this evolving story. Whether Real Madrid’s “Anti-Lamine Yamal” plan will finally slow him down or whether the young prodigy will find new ways to break through — remains one of the most intriguing questions in European football today.
