Granada 2-2 Barcelona: Xavi’s side fight back as Lamine Yamal becomes La Liga’s youngest scorer

Teenager Lamine Yamal became the youngest goalscorer in La Liga history as Barcelona fought back from two goals down to earn a point against Granada.

The visitors fell behind after just 17 seconds, with Bryan Zaragoza’s first-half double putting Granada in charge.

But, after Yamal scored in first half added time, Sergi Roberto eventually ended Granada’s resistance with five minutes remaining.

The point left Barcelona third, three points behind leaders Real Madrid and one behind second-placed Girona heading into the international break.

Remarkably, Xavi’s side fell behind after just 17 seconds when Granada won possession following kick-off and Bryan Zaragoza fired in past Marc-Andre ter Stegen.

Despite the visitors dominating in search of a response, Zaragoza doubled the advantage with an excellent solo goal on the break after 29 minutes.

Yamal’s tap-in from Joao Felix’s pass before the interval changed the complexion of the match but it took until the 85th minute for Roberto to find the equalizer, slotting in from Alejandro Balde’s assist.

Felix believed he had scored a dramatic late winner but his goal was ruled out for a marginal offset against Ferran Torres.

Yamal adds latest record in breakthrough year

It has been quite the year for Yamal.

At 15 years and 290 days, the winger became Barcelona’s youngest-ever player as a substitute against Real Betis in April.

He then became the youngest player – and goalscorer – for the Spanish national team in a 7-1 Euro 2024 qualifying win against Georgia in September.

And on Sunday, against Granada, he added the title of La Liga’s youngest scorer to his list of achievements in 2023.

Yamal has featured in all nine of Barcelona’s league games this season – starting five of those matches, including the past two.

Academy product Yamal, who has a Moroccan father and mother from Equatorial Guinea, was born on 13 July 2007 and has been at Barca since he was five.

The youngest player ever to be called up to the Spain senior squad, he started against Cyprus following his goal against Georgia and is once again in the squad for October’s internationals against Scotland and Norway.