Why isn’t Lamine Yamal playing for Barcelona against Celta Vigo in LaLiga?

Robert Lewandowski is fit for Celta, but fellow striker Yamal is not part of the selection for the match in Vigo.

There was mixed news on the injury front for Barcelona head coach Hansi Flick as he selected his starting line-up for Saturday's LaLiga match against Celta Vigo. Although Robert Lewandowki has recovered in time from a fitness problem, fellow striker Lamine Yamal, perhaps the team's most impressive player this season, is not part of the matchday squad.

“It is unlikely that Yamal will be fit to play on Saturday,” a source in the Barça dressing room had told AS earlier this week. The 17-year-old is still in some pain after injuring his right ankle during the Champions League win against Crvena Zvezda on November 6, which resulted in his absence this weekend.

Yamal had to sit out the defeat against Real Sociedad before the international break, as well as Spain's victories in the UEFA Nations League against Denmark and Switzerland. In a statement on November 11, Barcelona said they expected the winger to be out for 'two to three weeks', although there were hopes earlier this week that he could return to face Celta slightly earlier than expected.

Lamine Yamal injury update: When will he play for Barcelona again?

With Yamal's absence from the starting line-up confirmed, attention now turns to the Champions League home game against Brest on Tuesday (November 26), or perhaps even the LaLiga match against Las Palmas in Montjuïc next Saturday (November 30). If Yamal plays in either of these two matches, his return from injury will have taken place within three weeks.

The teenager will ultimately decide for himself when he is fit to play. Although he still experiences some discomfort, the source revealed that he is virtually pain-free when his foot is bandaged. However, the injury is delicate and no risks will be taken to bring him back too soon.

Barcelona's poor record without Lamine Yamal

Yamal's continued absence is likely to worry Flick and Barça. The forward only managed to start two of the Catalans' LaLiga matches this season, both of which they lost (4-2 to Osasuna and 1-0 to Real Sociedad).

Defender Eric García was expected to be fit to play, but in the end he was not included in the squad.

However, there is also good news for Flick. Both top scorer Robert Lewandowski and Héctor Fort have fully recovered from their injuries, with the Pole starting in attack and the young defender named on the bench.