Why isn’t Yamal playing for Barcelona against Atlético Madrid in LaLiga today?

Yamal has been key to Barça’s success this season but misses the top-of-the-table clash against Atleti in Montjuïc.

Barcelona take on Atlético Madrid in a top-of-the-table clash on Saturday (December 21), with the winner at Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys to end 2024 as LaLiga leaders. Hansi Flick’s team have led the division all season but must defend their position without key winger Lamine Yamal.

What injury does Lamine Yamal have?

The 17-year-old superstar missed three Barça games and two Spain fixtures in November due to an injury to his right ankle, which he suffered a recurrence of in last Sunday’s shock home defeat to Leganés. Yamal was seen limping after being tackled in the 16th minute but somehow managed to play on in discomfort until the 75 minute, when he was substituted.

The Catalans revealed last week the attacker had sustained “a grade one injury to the anterior intertibio-fibular ligament,” which would keep him on the sidelines for “three to four weeks”. As a result, there was no chance of him ever being available to face Atleti, much to Flick’s dismay.

Which games will Lamine Yamal miss? How long will he be out?

Luckily for Barcelona and Yamal, LaLiga takes a short break over Christmas and New Year, which means the only other match he looks certain to miss is the Copa del Rey match against fourth-tier team Barbastro (4 January).

The hope is to have the teenager available for the 2025 Spanish Super Cup semifinal against Athletic Club on January 8, which takes place four days before the final against either Real Madrid or Mallorca in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

Much has been made of Barça’s struggles this season when Yamal hasn’t been available. The winger has only started one of their four LaLiga defeats, the loss to Leganés last weekend, which he played with an injury. Flick’s team have won 12 of 14 league games when he has been in the starting lineup, the draw against Real Betis on December 7 the only other fixture they have failed to win.

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