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Barcelona are on the verge of back-to-back La Liga championships with six matches left in the season, but they'll need to hold off Real Madrid and complete the job without their star player: Lamine Yamal.
Yamal's 2026–27 campaign is finished after Barcelona announced that a left hamstring injury will keep him sidelined for the remainder of the season. The teenager's focus now shifts to being fit for the 2026 World Cup.
A composed penalty in the 1–0 victory over Celta Vigo that earned Barcelona three points marks Yamal's final contribution in Blaugrana colors this term. His decisive goal also helped Hansi Flick's squad rebuild a nine-point cushion over Real Madrid at the top of La Liga, with just 18 points remaining to be contested.
Yamal's performances this season are the primary reason Barça currently enjoy that lead, but if the Catalans hope to avoid a disastrous collapse, they must find a way to compensate for the loss of their leading scorer and top assist provider.
Replacing what Yamal brings to the table is an impossible task, but here are three ways Barcelona could cover for his absence through the end of the season.
Roony Bardghji's Time to Shine
The most obvious and natural replacement for Yamal is fellow youngster Roony Bardghji. The 20-year-old has served as the Spaniard's understudy throughout the season and is the only other genuine right winger available to Flick.
Bardghji has displayed glimpses of his clear potential this season, but securing consistent minutes with Yamal ahead of him in the pecking order has predictably been a challenge, even leading the young Swede to publicly voice his dissatisfaction with his limited role.
If Flick wants to maintain a similar profile to Yamal, Bardghji is the most logical choice. He's an adept dribbler who enjoys taking on defenders and cutting inside onto his favored left foot. His consistency and overall quality don't come close to Yamal's level, but Bardghji is far from a weak option, and regular game time could be just the catalyst he needs to elevate his performance.
Bardghji has started only seven of his 24 appearances this season, accumulating fewer than 700 minutes across all competitions. Five of his six goal contributions this term have come in matches where he featured in the starting lineup — a show of faith could prove beneficial.
It was Bardghji who stepped in for Yamal after he was forced off injured against Celta, and he remains the frontrunner to fill that role in the upcoming fixtures.
Pack the Midfield
Given that Flick doesn't appear to fully trust Bardghji for regular starts, another option would be to load the lineup with midfielders, allowing them the freedom to interchange positions and appear at varying heights and areas of the pitch.
Flick has fielded four natural central midfielders in each of the last three matches, with Yamal the sole winger included in those starting elevens. With Frenkie de Jong back to full fitness, there's a possibility Flick could be tempted to introduce a fifth going forward.
With a midfield trio of De Jong, Pedri, and Gavi, the likes of Fermín López and Dani Olmo could function as dual No. 10s operating slightly higher up the pitch. Crowding the central zones and tightening the gaps between technically gifted, combination-oriented midfielders while giving them the freedom to roam could bring out their best qualities while also creating headaches for opponents trying to track them.
Barcelona's fullbacks would supply the width, particularly Alejandro Balde down the left side, who is expected to see increased minutes with João Cancelo managing a fitness concern.
Without his two first-choice wingers, handing the reins to Barcelona's suddenly fully fit group of central midfielders should be an option Flick seriously weighs, especially given how apparent it has become that he doesn't fully trust Marcus Rashford in high-pressure situations, let alone Bardghji.
This approach, on paper, also aligns most closely with Barcelona's storied footballing identity.
Waiting For Raphinha
In theory, Flick may only need to find creative solutions to cover for Yamal over the next couple of matches, as once Raphinha returns from injury, the Brazilian is widely expected to slot into the teenager's position on the right wing.
Raphinha has been sidelined with his own hamstring problem since the March international break. His estimated recovery window was five weeks, and reports suggest the Brazilian is aiming to be fully fit in time for the season's final El Clásico against Real Madrid on May 10.
Barcelona face tricky away trips to Getafe and Osasuna before then, but if they can successfully navigate those two fixtures, Raphinha's return could provide a major lift for the Catalans and offset Yamal's absence better than any other option at Flick's disposal.
Raphinha has predominantly played on the left wing under Flick, but he arrived at Barcelona as a right winger from Leeds United in 2022, and he is expected to occupy that position for Brazil at the 2026 World Cup.
Flick will be eager for Raphinha to return to action soon so that at least one of his starting wingers can contribute during the title run-in. Having missed Barcelona's Champions League exit, Raphinha could potentially make his comeback with the chance to help seal consecutive La Liga titles.