Knee issue rules Yamal out of Spain-Czechia game

Lamine Yamal will miss Spain's Nations League game against Czechia on Thursday due to a knee injury.

The Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) confirmed the winger's absence on Monday, after he sustained the knock during Barcelona's 2-1 win over Atletico Madrid the previous day.

Yamal still played the full 90 minutes as Hansi Flick's side recovered from a goal down to move three points clear at the top of LaLiga, assisting the second of Fermin Lopez's goals and creating seven chances in total.

He became the first Blaugrana player to reach that figure in a LaLiga match against Atleti since October 2008, when Xavi did so under Pep Guardiola.

Yamal has had an outstanding start to the season, registering 25 goal involvements in 16 games across all competitions (13 goals, 12 assists) – the most of any player from Europe's top five leagues.

Michael Olise (61) and Pascal Gross (57) are the only players to create more chances than Yamal's 54, while he has also attempted (118) and completed (65) the most dribbles.

He is one of only two players to already reach double figures for goals and assists this campaign, alongside Ballon d'Or winner Harry Kane (10 goals, 11 assists). 

In a statement, the RFEF said Yamal, David Raya and Mikel Oyarzabal were expected to join their team-mates in training later this week, while Liverpool's Victor Munoz has been handed a late call-up to Luis de la Fuente's group.

The World champions have won each of their first four games in Nations League Group A3, with their place in the quarter-finals already confirmed.

They will top the group should they avoid defeat against England in their final game on Sunday, or if the Three Lions fail to beat Croatia on Thursday.