Barcelona Makes Crucial Call on Lamine Yamal as Injury Crisis Deepens
Barcelona have announced that Lamine Yamal has recovered and is ready for selection in the team's La Liga encounter against Real Sociedad on Sunday night, bringing mixed injury updates for Hansi Flick's squad.
The recent Kopa Trophy recipient has been absent from Barcelona's last four fixtures due to a groin problem he picked up after continuing to play despite discomfort while on international service with Spain. Flick has made no secret of his displeasure with Luis de la Fuente—who remains indifferent—and has taken a much more careful stance with the gifted young player.
The anticipation has finally ended. Just over six hours prior to Barcelona welcoming Real Sociedad at the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys, the club issued a brief announcement proudly stating that Yamal "has received medical approval" and would feature in Sunday's matchday roster.
Yamal had hinted at his comeback on social platforms during the weekend, though Flick remained tight-lipped about whether the prospect was ready to begin three weeks after his last competitive outing.
The comeback of Barcelona's Ballon d'Or second-place finisher arrives at a crucial moment for a squad increasingly depleted by injuries. As the club indicated following the midweek triumph over Real Oviedo, key attacker Raphinha and primary goalkeeper Joan García are both unavailable.
Raphinha is expected to remain out for three weeks with a hamstring issue while García may be absent for double that duration after suffering a meniscus problem requiring surgical intervention.
Left-back Alejandro Balde was anticipated to make his return alongside Yamal for Sunday's match but was omitted from the squad.
That choice—and Yamal's position as starter or bench option—might be influenced by Barcelona's massive Champions League meeting with Paris Saint-Germain next week. The Catalans welcome the defending European titleholders on Wednesday in one of the most compelling matchups across the entire league phase schedule. PSG are experiencing their own injury crisis which will only make Yamal's availability more concerning for them.