Barcelona kicks off a new Champions League campaign with high hopes and a desire to make up for last season’s disappointment. They will face Newcastle on September 18 in an eagerly awaited match that promises to be challenging. The main concern is: why is Lamine Yamal absent?
The team comes into this match on a high following a 6-0 victory over Valencia in LaLiga. Despite this strong performance, Lamine Yamal has not been part of the squad recently.
Barcelona’s No. 10 has not trained since coming back from international duty, where he played two matches for Spain. The club confirmed last week that Yamal is recovering from a pubic injury, which already kept him out of the win against Valencia.
Why is Lamine Yamal not playing against Newcastle?
Barcelona announced their squad for Wednesday’s match, and Yamal is not on the list. The 18-year-old winger is still facing a groin injury that may worsen if he returns too soon.
Barcelona players celebrating a goal.
The club is cautious with their young talent, aiming to avoid long-term issues. Yamal began experiencing pain after Barcelona’s second league game against Levante, as reported by Mundo Deportivo. He played three more matches before the discomfort forced him to stop.
This situation has raised discussions. Head coach Hansi Flick publicly criticized Spain’s approach to managing Yamal’s playing time, a stance supported by Barcelona’s sporting director Deco. Spain’s national team refuted these claims, but it appears Yamal may remain sidelined for weeks instead of days.
When could Yamal return?
A key question about Yamal’s recovery is when he might return. Reports suggest Yamal could be out until Barcelona hosts Paris Saint-Germain on October 1 in the Champions League.
If the club decides to be cautious and keeps Yamal out until the PSG match, he will miss upcoming LaLiga games against Getafe, Real Oviedo, and Real Sociedad.