Barcelona recovered from conceding first to beat Galatasaray 4-1 in the Champions League, a result that left coach Hansi Flick singling out Lamine Yamal for changing the course of the game, according to DAZN.
The Spanish side fell behind in the 28th minute when Batrakov scored for the hosts. Not long after, the referee disallowed a goal by Osimhen for offside, a decision that kept the deficit at one rather than two.
Joao Cancelo leveled in the 43rd minute, sending the teams into halftime at 1-1. Barcelona kept pressing after the break and completed the turnaround through goals from Fermín, Anthony Gordon and Karim Adeyemi, finishing the night at 1-4.
Yamal was named player of the match. Speaking at his post-match press conference, Flick said it was remarkable to have a player of that caliber performing at such a level, adding that Yamal had changed the match for his team.
The Barcelona coach said he sees the same quality from Yamal in training that the public saw in the stadium, calling it incredible and expressing his happiness at having him in the squad. He also noted that many of his players are performing well, but described it as natural that attention falls on Yamal, whom he called an incredible player and described as outstanding in the second half.
Why it matters
The result matters for two reasons. First, it shows Barcelona can respond when a match starts badly, a trait that separates contenders from teams that only win when everything goes their way. Second, it reinforces Yamal's standing as the player opponents must plan around, and it gives Flick a public data point when he talks about the team's ambition.
DAZN reports that Barcelona has shown it has enough arguments to be considered a candidate for titles this season. Club president Joan Laporta had spoken highly of the team's play before a board lunch in Istanbul, and the players backed that up on the pitch hours later, according to the same outlet.
A second-half performance built on patience
The shape of the match followed a pattern Flick described afterward. His team needed to keep control, move the ball and the opponent, and do better in the second half. He called that the team's quality and what it wants to demonstrate.
That is roughly what happened. After Cancelo's equalizer, Barcelona kept creating chances rather than settling for the draw. Fermín, Gordon and Adeyemi each found the net, turning a tense night in Istanbul into a comfortable scoreline. Spanish outlets covering the game framed it in similar terms: Diario AS described the team as unstoppable in Istanbul, MARCA wrote that Yamal had said enough, El Mundo noted that Yamal also fills Barcelona's belly in Europe, and La Vanguardia called the side, and its feeling, unbeatable.
Flick, for his part, tried to keep expectations in check. He said football can change quickly, that the squad is proud and confident, and that the ambition is bigger than what has been achieved so far. He pointed out that titles are decided in May or June, and that winning them is what the club is after.
What Flick said about Yamal
The German coach's comments about Yamal were the most quoted part of his press conference. He said it is incredible to have a player like him at this level and repeated that Yamal changed the match. He added that watching Yamal in training produces the same impression as watching him in a game, and that he is happy to have him on the team.
Flick also spread credit across the group, saying he has many players performing at a high level. Even so, he acknowledged that everyone looks at Yamal, describing him as an incredible player and highlighting his second-half display.
The broader picture for Barcelona
For Barcelona, the night in Istanbul offered evidence on both sides of the ball. The team conceded first and had a second goal against it ruled out, yet still controlled the game and scored four times. That combination of resilience and attacking output is what the club's leadership has been pointing to.
Laporta's pre-match comments about the team's style, reported by DAZN, now have a result attached to them. The win also fits the pattern Spanish coverage has been building around this Barcelona side: a team that can be dominant in Europe and that leans on Yamal when matches need to be decided.
Flick's caution about the calendar is worth keeping in mind. A strong night in October does not settle a season, and the coach said as much. But it does give Barcelona a reference point for how it wants to play when it falls behind, and it gives opponents another reason to worry about Yamal.
For viewers in the United States, DAZN notes that the Champions League is available in Spanish, with a selection of matches streamed live each matchday and programming aimed at a Latino audience. Other matches can be seen on ViX, with a selection also available on UNIMÁS and TUDN.
Next up, Barcelona will look to carry this form into its coming fixtures, while Flick's task is to keep a squad with several in-form players balanced as the competition moves deeper into the season.
