Atletico Madrid is preparing to face Barcelona with a special tactical plan targeting the young winger Lamine Yamal, during the first leg of the Champions League quarter-finals, as the Madrid team seeks to limit the player's danger before the second leg.

According to the 'Sport' newspaper, coach Diego Simeone has set a clear goal of trying to get Lamine Yamal to receive a new yellow card, as the player already has four cards, making him threatened with suspension and missing the return match scheduled at the Metropolitano Stadium.

This plan comes in light of Rafinha's absence due to injury, which will keep him out for no less than four weeks due to a biceps femoris injury, depriving Barcelona of one of its most prominent attacking elements on the flanks, increasing the importance of Lamine Yamal in the team's formation.

The Atletico technical staff sees neutralizing Yamal as a strategic priority, especially since the absence of the main wingers may significantly affect Barcelona's ability to create spaces and excel on the flanks, which gives the Madrid team a potential advantage, especially in the return match held at their home.

Expectations indicate that Simeone will rely on close and intensive marking of the player, resorting to early tactical fouls to cut his runs, in addition to imposing double marking to force him to play in tight spaces or with his back to the goal, along with the possibility of using calculated provocative methods to affect his concentration.

Simeone has used similar methods in previous encounters, but the importance of the current match imposes greater dimensions for this plan, as Atletico aims to reduce Barcelona's attacking power before the decisive encounter.

Meanwhile, coach Hans Flick has emphasized the necessity for Lamine Yamal to remain calm and avoid provocations, aware of the difficulty of the confrontation and the challenges the opponent may pose, especially with the player's sensitive position regarding cards.

Yamal has four yellow cards in the Champions League, obtained during matches against Paris Saint-Germain, Club Brugge, Eintracht Frankfurt, and Copenhagen, and he was previously suspended during the league stage against Slavia Prague, making any new card mean his absence from the return leg.

The confrontation is expected to witness a strong battle on the right flank from the first minutes, as Atletico seeks to achieve two goals, solid defense and reducing Barcelona's threat, in addition to trying to deprive them of one of their most prominent elements in the return match, while the Catalan team works to protect their young player and maintain their attacking strength before the decision in Madrid.