Lamine Yamal's late gamble backfires in stunning Champions League collapse

Lamine Yamal is a special player. At 17 he has the world at his extraordinary feet. He is already being hailed as the natural heir to Messi at Barcelona. But let's repeat. He is 17. And with that can come a youthful naivety. 

Two words. Game Management.

It's natural at his age - with his talent and impulsiveness - that he would want to use his skills to settle the tie. He hit the post. He was within centimeters of putting Barcelona 4-2 up and stealing the glory and the headlines.

But there was a much better option. As any "old pro" would tell you, take the ball to the corner flag and keep it there. For as long as possible. Until the final whistle blows.

It's incredibly hard for defenders to win back meaningful possession in that situation. The best they can usually do is concede a series of throw-ins or corners, all of which would be taken short, keeping the ball in this unthreatening zone.

It would have been a simple task, knocking three minutes or so off the clock to seal Barcelona's victory. Instead, Milan worked the ball up the pitch from the ensuing goal kick, scored and went on to win the match.

Barcelona wouldn't be in this position without Yamal's brilliance in the first leg. But his naivety in the second cost them the game.

Related: Yamal Shines and Messi & Ronaldo Stumble