'People want 100 goals at 16' – Lamine Yamal keeps feet on ground after becoming youngest player to score hat-trick in La Liga this century

Barcelona swept aside Villarreal on Saturday, with Lamine Yamal becoming the youngest player to score a hat-trick in La Liga this century. The Catalans delivered a composed and authoritative performance that restored their provisional four-point advantage at the summit of La Liga. It was the first senior hat-trick of the Spain attacker's career, with Robert Lewandowski also on target in a 4-1 win.

Lamine Yamal scored his first senior career hat-trick as Barcelona beat Villarreal 4-1 in La Liga to move four points clear of Real Madrid at the summit - but the 18-year-old is refusing to apply unnecessary pressure on himself amid his rising stardom.

The Spain forward all but settled the game before half-time, striking twice in the space of nine minutes - both set up by the lively Fermin Lopez.

Villarreal responded after the break, with Pape Gueye pulling one back from close range, but Yamal completed his hat-trick with another confident finish before substitute Robert Lewandowski added a fourth in stoppage time.

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At just 18 years and 230 days old, Yamal also became the youngest player this century to score a La Liga hat-trick - and he told Mundo Deportivo: "I’m elated with the victory and the three goals. The key is to stay calm.

"People want me to score 100 goals at 16 years old. I’d like that too, but it’s very difficult.

"A few months ago I didn’t feel good playing. It wasn’t just the groin issue, I wasn’t happy. Now I’m feeling very good and enjoying myself."

Yamal is the youngest La Liga hat-trick scorer this century

Image credit: Getty Images

Flick has looked to manage Yamal's minutes as the Spain international regains his fitness following his injury issues, and the German head coach withdrew the winger after 73 minutes with Barcelona already in a commanding lead.

Having sewn up the Supercopa de Espana this season, the expectation is that Yamal still has plenty of football ahead of him, with Barcelona facing Newcastle in the last 16 of the UEFA Champions League next month.

Yamal will be an integral part of Spain's squad at this summer's World Cup, and the player says he understands the reason his manager's cautious approach.

"The substitution was agreed if the team scored, but on top of that, I scored myself, so both things happened," Yamal added.

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Video credit: SNTV

Barcelona's chances of retaining the Copa del Rey, however, look slim with Diego Simeone's Atletico Madrid coming to the Camp Nou on Tuesday defending what appears to be an unassailable 4-0 lead.

But Yamal insisted: "The comeback is possible. We will give everything, we need the support of the fans, but it’s possible."

Flick: We have to take care of Yamal

Meanwhile, Flick also explained why Pedri was named among his list of substitutes against The Yellow Submarine on Saturday.

The midfield maestro returned from injury against Levante last weekend and many expected him to step straight back into the starting line-up, particularly after Frenkie de Jong was ruled out.

Instead, Flick surprised a few by keeping Pedri on the bench. The Barcelona coach opted for a less familiar midfield trio of Marc Bernal, Dani Olmo and Fermin Lopez, instead.

Yamal has been nursing a groin issue this season

Image credit: Getty Images

Speaking to broadcasters ahead of kick-off, Flick made it clear the decision was about careful management rather than form or fitness concerns.

"We’re playing with our usual tactics, we’ve decided that Pedri will play a bit in the second half, we have to manage De Jong’s injury and Pedri’s return," he said.

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Pedri was introduced on the hour-mark for Olmo, and it was his pass which sent Yamal on his way to complete his hat-trick.

The 23-year-old was singled out by his team-mate for his role in allowing him to create history.

Yamal said: "Pedri’s passes are just incredible. I can only see the players’ feet and suddenly the ball is right in front of me."

Yamal played 73 minutes before he was withdrawn

Image credit: Getty Images

Following the victory, Flick's team selection was fully vindicated, and he reflected: "Of course we can do things better, but I really liked what I saw today. We played big.

"Tuesday [against Atletico] will be different, but we will have to play at this level. We pressed very well and very quickly. We have won the duels. I really liked what I saw.

"We tried to take care of Lamine, but the rest of the team was also very good. We pressed Villarreal well, winning direct duels, and it was the key to today’s game, pressing well and fast. It was a great performance."

Turning his attention to the sizable task of overturning a four-goal deficit in his side's Copa del Rey semi-final next week, Flick added: "We want everyone in the stadium so we can fight together and try to make a comeback against Atletico Madrid.

"We’ll battle for 90 minutes or longer. We’ll give everything and see what happens."

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