Flick Delivers Bombshell Lamine Yamal Injury News Hours Before El Clasico Showdown
Barcelona head coach Hansi Flick confirmed that Lamine Yamal will be ready to feature from the start in Sunday's Spanish Super Cup final showdown with Real Madrid, despite earlier doubts about his participation.
Yamal was absent from Barça's opening training session of 2026 but bounced back to feature in the starting lineup for last weekend's Catalan derby clash with Espanyol. The young star was subsequently affected by a gastric illness that relegated him to the bench for Wednesday's semifinal encounter with Athletic Club.
The Catalans managed perfectly without him. Roony Bardghji stepped into the right-wing role in Yamal's place and contributed to three goals during an emphatic 5–0 triumph. After the match was effectively decided, Flick introduced his No. 10 for the closing 18 minutes.
With bitter rivals Real Madrid awaiting in Sunday's marquee encounter, Flick was questioned about whether his standout performer could earn a starting berth. "Absolutely," the German tactician smiled. "Every player is prepared to feature in the squad. It's excellent having our full complement available."
Yamal has adopted a notably more subdued tone in his pre-match statements for this weekend's Clásico compared to his stance before October's meeting. The dynamic winger assumed the role of instigator during the autumn, consistently goading Real Madrid after Barcelona secured victory in all four Clásicos throughout the 2024–25 season.
The Madrid outfit struck back with a 2–1 triumph at the Santiago Bernabéu and promptly reminded Yamal of his ill-advised remarks. Dani Carvajal confronted his national teammate during the final moments of that victory, igniting a scuffle between both squads that resulted in five yellow cards and one dismissal.
Flick Faces Multiple Crucial Selection Dilemmas for El Clásico
Despite Roony's impressive display against Athletic, if Yamal is physically capable of starting, he undoubtedly will. Flick's team selection choices aren't all quite so clear-cut.
The most significant dilemma for the former Bayern Munich strategist concerns who should lead the attack. Ferran Torres found the net while completing the full 90 minutes in the semifinal, bringing his season total to a squad-leading 14 goals in all competitions. Nevertheless, Flick also has a completely healthy Robert Lewandowski available. The 37-year-old veteran has been restricted to under 1,000 minutes this campaign yet has already netted nine times.
The choice of attacking midfielder operating behind the striker remains uncertain. Fermín López has enjoyed an excellent start to the new year—directly involved in five goals across just 135 minutes of play—but confronts strong competition from Dani Olmo. There's also the possibility of moving Raphinha into a central role and introducing Marcus Rashford on the left wing.
Regardless of which players Flick chooses, they must function cohesively. "I believe everyone values the opportunity to contest a final against Real Madrid," he reflected during his pre-match media briefing. "We have the chance to claim silverware and must perform collectively, that's what I expect to witness. That represents the crucial element."