How Dembele’s move to PSG paved the way for Barcelona’s next-gen Leo Messi

Barcelona’s upcoming tie against Paris Saint-Germain in the UEFA Champions League will see some of the most talented players in Europe take each other on, in what is expected to be a heated contest.

One of the duels worth keeping an eye on is Lamine Yamal and Ousmane Dembele. Two similar players, rich with Barcelona heritage, will compete this coming week.

Barcelona fans will bank on Yamal to provide the x-factor going forward. However, had it not been for Dembele, the Catalans may have never unearthed someone like Yamal, at least not in the way they have.

Dembele’s exit acted as a catalyst

Dembele’s departure was one of the biggest disappointments for Xavi last summer. The Barcelona coach was not in favour of the Frenchman’s exit, but the club ultimately had to offload the player due to their financial woes.

Dembele’s departure forced Xavi to look for alternatives, with Lamine Yamal coming to the fore at the right time.

Boasting a similar profile, Xavi put his faith in Yamal to provide the attacking essence for Barcelona this season. And the youngster has not disappointed at all.

Dembele’s exit served as a catalyst (Photo by NICOLAS TUCAT/AFP via Getty Images)

In less than a complete season, Yamal has become one of the hottest prospects in world football. He is certainly one of Barcelona’s protagonists as they take on PSG this midweek.

Dembele & Yamal share similar records

As far as the season is concerned, Yamal and Dembele have racked up similar numbers for Barcelona and PSG, respectively.

Yamal has been more of an all-round figure in the Barça frontline, racking up six goals and seven assists in 40 competitive appearances.

Dembele, in contrast, has scored only once. Productivity was an issue for the Frenchman even at Barcelona.

However, the former Dortmund starlet makes up for it with his creativity. He has racked up 13 assists for PSG this season. If we combine goals and assists, both Yamal and Dembele have racked up similar numbers this term.

That said, tallies and milestones won’t matter when Barcelona take on PSG, and at the end of the day, it will be about who comes out on top.