Yamal makes a comeback to rescue Barca amid an injury crisis

Lamine Yamal’s return to training comes at a critical time when Barcelona is grappling with multiple injuries to key players, bringing renewed optimism to coach Hansi Flick before important matches in La Liga and the Champions League.

Lamine Yamal had worried Barcelona’s coaching staff after sustaining a groin injury while on duty with the Spanish national team during matches against Bulgaria and Turkey. This injury is particularly delicate for a young player who regularly competes at a high intensity. Yamal’s absence recently has diminished Barca’s attacking unpredictability. Therefore, the 17-year-old’s faster-than-expected recovery and readiness to return provide significant relief for coach Hansi Flick.

Barcelona’s official social media recently posted a photo of Yamal back in training with a brief but meaningful caption: "Yamal is magic." This message not only confirms that the 18-year-old prodigy has recovered from the groin injury sustained with the Spanish national team but also affirms his fitness to play. It is seen as timely support for coach Hansi Flick amid a severely weakened squad.

Contrasting with the good news about Yamal, Barcelona continues to suffer major setbacks. Goalkeeper Joan Garcia, a new signing from Espanyol who has started every game this season, injured his left knee meniscus during Friday’s training. The club confirmed Garcia will undergo arthroscopic surgery and will require 4-6 weeks to recover.

Up front, Raphinha will also be sidelined for three weeks due to a hamstring injury sustained in the win over Oviedo. The Brazilian forward will miss three key matches: hosting Real Sociedad in La Liga, the crucial clash with PSG in the Champions League, and the away game at Sevilla. This is a significant blow as Raphinha played a vital role in helping Barca win La Liga and the Copa del Rey last season.

Even more concerning is Gavi’s situation. According to Diario AS, doctors have confirmed that the Spanish midfielder’s injury is more severe than initially thought. Not only are the ligaments affected, but also the knee cartilage, forcing him to be out of action for at least 4-5 months, with the earliest possible return in February next year. Young midfielder Fermin is also on the long-term injury list, further complicating Flick’s personnel challenges.

Barcelona is genuinely in crisis as the injury list continues to grow. From Gavi and Fermin to Raphinha and Joan Garcia, numerous key players are forced to stay off the pitch for extended periods. This situation presents coach Hansi Flick with a difficult staffing problem during the most challenging phase, as the team faces strong opponents consecutively in La Liga and the Champions League.

With a demanding schedule, Barca must host Real Sociedad on Sunday before facing PSG, the European champions, just three days later. In these tough circumstances, Yamal’s return is seen as a beacon of hope, giving the Catalan giants’ fans reason to expect positive results and continue pursuing their ambitions across all competitions.