The tests undergone by the young Barcelona winger have confirmed that he has a sprain in his right ankle.
After a painful loss against Leganés, Barcelona is dealt another blow with the injury of Lamine Yamal. The winger underwent medical tests on Monday morning to assess the damage from Neyou's tackle. Tests confirmed a right ankle sprain, ruling him out for three to four weeks.
Club statement on X (formerly Twitter):
“First team player Lamine Yamal suffered trauma to his right ankle during the match against CD Leganés yesterday. Tests carried out this morning revealed a grade 1 injury to the anterior tibiofibular ligament. He is expected to be out for approximately three to four weeks.”
This isn't the first time Lamine has suffered an injury in this area. On November 6, in a match against Red Star, he suffered a blow to his right ankle, resulting in a grade 1 syndesmosis injury with an initial recovery of two to three weeks. However, his recovery took up to three weeks, during which he missed games against Real Sociedad, Celta Vigo and Brest. Given these recurring problems and the extended recovery time, Barcelona's medical team is being extremely cautious. The club wants to avoid any risk, especially after Frenkie de Jong's recurring right ankle injury last season, which kept him sidelined for almost five months.
Lamine was visibly shaken during the match against Leganés, starting with Neyou's challenge in the 15th minute, which caused an awkward twist to his right ankle. Although he was able to stay on the pitch until the 74th minute, his physical condition was clearly affected. He even requested to be substituted twice in the first half before moving on, but was replaced by Gavi later in the match. His absence comes at a crucial time for Barcelona, as the team has secured just five of the last eighteen points in La Liga.
Which games will Lamine Yamal miss?
This means he will miss the crucial match against Atlético Madrid next Saturday, as well as the Copa del Rey match against Barbastro on January 4. His participation in the semi-final of the Spanish Super Cup against Athletic Club on January 8 is also doubtful.
Tactical options for Flick
Without Lamine Yamal, coach Hansi Flick faces a difficult decision in the run-up to the match against Atlético. He could push Dani Olmo to the left wing and deploy Raphinha on the right, with Gavi or Pablo Torre as the attacking midfielder. Alternatively, Olmo could feature as an attacking midfielder, with Ferran Torres taking over on the left wing.
This injury adds another layer of complexity to a crucial moment in Barcelona's season.
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