Why isn’t Yamal playing for Barcelona in UCL? Flick’s ‘setback’ injury update

The 17-year-old has been ruled out of the visit of Brest in the Champions League as he continues his recovery.

Barcelona will be without teenage sensation Lamine Yamal as they host Brest in the Champions League on Tuesday.

The 17-year-old has been ruled out by head coach Hansi Flick as he continues his recovery from an ankle injury picked up in the UCL victory over Crvena zvezda earlier this month.

AS sources in Spain report that Yamal has suffered a setback in his rehabilitation. It was initially hoped that he would be back in contention after the November international break but he will remain on the sidelines until the visit of Las Palmas on Saturday.

“I think this could be the last game he misses,” Flick said ahead of the Champions League clash. “On Saturday he could be an option from the bench.”

Barcelona will expect to overpower the Ligue 1 side, even without the talents of Lamine Yamal at their disposal. But their recent lapse in form in the teenager’s absence has raised some eyebrows.

Barcelona’s record without Lamine Yamal

“We know how important he is, I won’t deny that,” Barcelona defender Inigo Martinez admitted at the pregame press conference. “He generates a lot of fear. He is vital, but that doesn’t mean that whoever replaces him isn’t up to the task.”

After a breakthrough 2023/24 season and a series of glittering performances en route to lifting the European Championship with Spain over the summer, the pressure on Yamal was high coming into the new season. Incredibly, he may have exceeded those expectations.

In 12 LaLiga appearances he’s scored five goals and laid on seven assists: seriously impressive numbers for a wide player. His direct running and creative spark make him a constant menace, occupying opposition defences and allowing the likes of Raphinha and Robert Lewandowski greater space in which to operate.

His influence on the team’s fortunes is clear. Of the 15 games in which Yamal started this season, Barcelona have won 14. The Catalan giants have won only one of four without him in the starting XI.

As Martinez explained: “Lamine is Lamine, we don’t have him now and that doesn’t mean that just because he’s not here we won’t win. We have to focus on those we have. There is enough of a squad to win every game. We know his potential.”