Real Sociedad coach Sergio Francisco lauded Lamine Yamal as the best player in the world after the Barcelona forward returned from injury to set up the winning goal in Sunday's meeting between the two teams.

Yamal, 18, missed Barça's last four games with a groin problem but came off the bench against La Real and within one minute had set up Robert Lewandowski as the Catalans won 2-1 to move top of LaLiga.

"Lamine's presence on the pitch alone is a threat," Francisco said in a news conference. "It is so difficult to stop him, even bringing on fresh players from the bench to defend him.

"It's great to watch him play. He showed again that he is most likely the best in the world. His introduction off the bench decided the game."

Real Sociedad had taken a surprise lead in the first

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