Barcelona's Rising Star Lamine Yamal Sidelined: What's Behind His Absence Against Sevilla?
Once more this season, injury has sidelined Lamine Yamal from a Barcelona match as discussions about the young player's fitness continue to intensify.
The influential teenager was compelled to miss four Barcelona games right after pushing through discomfort while representing Spain during September's international fixtures. Barcelona manager Hansi Flick expressed clear frustration with Spanish coach Luis de la Fuente for fielding the 18-year-old in consecutive matches following painkiller treatments.
Both coaches have remained steadfast in an increasingly heated dispute over responsibility. De la Fuente selected Yamal again for October's international duty, only to receive an official response from Barcelona stating their star attacker was unavailable due to fitness concerns.
While Barcelona must face Sevilla without their No. 10, the timing of this medical announcement ensures they won't lose Yamal to another international period and risk further complications ahead.
What Is Lamine Yamal's Injury?
Barcelona announced that Yamal had worsened his groin problem during the club's Champions League loss to Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday, the same issue that previously sidelined him for four fixtures.
Despite entering professional football at such a young age, the teenager has shown impressive resilience so far. Before this campaign, Yamal had never been absent from a Barcelona match due to muscle problems. A persistent ankle concern caused the talent to miss five club games across two periods last season, but he has otherwise been lucky to escape extended absences.
When Will Lamine Yamal Be Fit Again?
Flick remained understandably reserved when discussing Yamal's potential comeback timeline. "With this type of injury, it's challenging to determine [his return date]," the German manager cautioned this week. "It's difficult to declare, 'He'll be ready in two, three or four weeks...' or whether he can feature in the Clásico. That's impossible to predict.
"We must be patient. We need to monitor his workload carefully. He's training with the rehabilitation group and [will continue] the coming weeks with them. We're taking it gradually. We need to observe how his progress develops."
Media reports indicate that Yamal might be unavailable for up to three weeks, potentially ruling him out of Barcelona's first encounter with Real Madrid this season on Oct. 26.