Lamine Yamal using LeBron James and Neymar as inspiration for Barcelona comeback against Atletico Madrid in UEFA Champions League

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Lamine Yamal believes another remontada against Atletico Madrid is on the cards and the teenager is taking inspiration from NBA icon LeBron James and Brazil legend Neymar for Barcelona's UEFA Champions League quarter-final second-leg clash against Atletico Madrid. Hansi Flick's side trail 2-0 after the first leg in Catalonia, with Pau Cubarsi's red card helping Atletico to a shock away win.

Highlights: Atleti claim famous Camp Nou win leaving Barca with work to do

Video credit: TNT Sports

Lamine Yamal is hoping he can follow the lead of LeBron James and Neymar when Barcelona take on Atletico Madrid in the second leg of their UEFA Champions League quarter-final.

The seismic clash on Tuesday evening - live on TNT Sports and HBO Max - sees La Liga champions Barca hunt down a 2-0 disadvantage after Atletico stunned their rivals at Camp Nou last week.

The Catalan side, who are nine points clear at the summit of the Spanish top flight, quickly got back to winning ways by dispatching Espanyol 4-1 on Saturday.

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Yamal has since changed his Instagram display picture to an image of NBA icon LeBron James surrounded by trophies, and the 18-year-old was asked about it in the pre-match press conference.

"I think he [LeBron James] is one of the references that can inspire me for tomorrow's game and that's why I posted it. I think I'll think about how he did it and I hope it works out the same way for me," said Yamal.

"We have a lot of veterans, we have young players who have been showing what they are for a while and yes, I consider myself one more, but I'm not the only one."

'He can inspire me' - Yamal hoping to channel inner LeBron against Atletico

Video credit: SNTV

Barcelona have pulled off bigger comebacks in the past, most notably shocking Paris Saint-Germain 6-1 to overturn a 4-0 first-leg deficit in 2017.

Quickly dubbed La Remontada, Yamal is hoping for one of his own at Atletico's Metropolitano on Tuesday, aiming to emulate his "idol" Neymar, who netted two late goals against PSG nine years ago.

”I’ve watched that 6-1 many times," said Yamal. "Neymar defined my childhood, he’s my idol and I’ll always be grateful for what he’s done for football. You pay for a ticket to watch him play. I hope he can be at the World Cup.”

While it remains to be seen whether the Brazilian will make his national team's FIFA World Cup squad, Yamal has his sights set on the short term and a potential Champions League semi-final spot.

”I can’t wait for the match, I’m very motivated. I hope I can make the difference. Let’s see if [Atletico head coach Diego] Simeone does me a favour and gives me a one-on-one against a defender.” he said.

”We’ll run until the final minute. We’ll play, we’ll fight, right to the end. We’re all from here, we’re all culers, and we’ll give everything.

”We have to play the way we know how. Intensity without losing our style of play. We can't think it's a miracle that we can come back. It's true we started 2-0 down, but we have to play the way we know how.”

The teenager has enjoyed a frighteningly productive season to date, scoring 22 goals and providing 18 assists in all competitions so far.

His latest contribution, a one-goal, two-assist masterclass against Espanyol, had his head coach Hansi Flick singing his praises before the second leg.

"I think Lamine [Yamal] has performed very good in the last games," said Flick. "I'm really happy with him. What I've said to him is he has to make these things where he's the best at the moment in the world in the one-against-one situation.

"Of course, we have to help him. We have to give him the option that he can pass - that is important. We have to play as a team, as one unit. This is important for tomorrow.

"I don't care about individual [performances], about [certain] players. We know that we have a lot of players with huge quality but the same is also [true] with Atletico."

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