Barcelona’s manager, Hansi Flick, has confirmed that the club has asked Spain’s national team to release Lamine Yamal from their upcoming matches due to an injury. The 17-year-old missed Barca’s recent La Liga match against Real Sociedad, which ended in a surprise 1-0 loss. Yamal had played the full 90 minutes in Barcelona’s 5-2 Champions League win over Red Star Belgrade, but afterward, the club reported he had a “severe contusion.” Despite treatment, he’s still feeling pain, making his return uncertain.
Barcelona hopes to keep Yamal in Spain for rest and recovery instead of having him travel for Spain’s games against Denmark and Switzerland on November 15 and 18. Flick admitted he isn’t sure if Yamal will be fit for the matches right after the international break, but the club is watching his recovery closely. Yamal has been impressive this season, with six goals and eight assists in just 16 games, establishing himself as a key player.
In Yamal’s absence, Fermin Lopez filled in during the Real Sociedad game but wasn’t able to make the same impact, which contributed to Barca’s loss. Even so, Barcelona is still six points ahead of Real Madrid, who have a game in hand, at the top of La Liga despite a wave of injuries. Besides Yamal, key players like Marc-Andre ter Stegen, Marc Bernal, and Andreas Christensen are out with serious injuries, while Ronald Araujo, Ferran Torres, and Eric Garcia are also recovering.
After the international break, Barcelona’s schedule is relatively manageable. They’ll face Celta Vigo on November 23, followed by a Champions League match against Brest on November 26, and a home game against Las Palmas on November 30. December ramps up with Mallorca and Real Betis, ending with a tough Champions League clash against Borussia Dortmund on December 11.