According to reports, Lamine Yamal managed only three shots on target in that game. Tomorrow, Fran will have the same role—he must be fully prepared and focused. His mission is one no full-back in the world relishes: stopping Lamine Yamal.

Limiting Yamal to just three shots in 112 minutes of direct confrontation is a major success. Barcelona’s new superstar averages a shot or key pass every 25 minutes this season (165 attempts in 4,193 official minutes). Based on this, Yamal should have had at least one more shot, if not two, according to his usual output. But Fran, with his bravery and support from teammates, denied him that opportunity.

Fran’s brilliant performance against a threat like Yamal was achieved by anticipating his moves (four of his seven tackles were against Barcelona’s No. 19, the highest in Real Madrid’s squad during the final) without committing a single foul—on Yamal or any other Barcelona player. A flawless defensive display.

The Montjuïc Stadium presents a golden opportunity for Fran to establish himself as a reliable option for big matches. This season, he hasn’t been a starter in any of Real Madrid’s three Champions League knockout stages (Manchester City, Atletico Madrid, and Arsenal—just 78 minutes across six matches), the UEFA Super Cup, or the Spanish Super Cup (only 15 minutes in the 5-2 loss in Jeddah). In La Liga, he only started in the derby at the Bernabéu.

Carlo Ancelotti has preferred Mendy, and when Mendy has been absent, Alaba or Camavinga have filled in. But now, with all three sidelined due to serious injuries, Fran is the only option left.

His performance in the Copa del Rey final provides a solid foundation to build upon, especially as the club looks to sign a player for this position in the summer (from Álvaro Carreras to Theo Hernández). A big El Clasico win that edges Real Madrid closer to the La Liga title could strengthen Fran’s case. And he knows it well.