In a worrying development for Barcelona fans, the club has announced that young sensation Lamine Yamal and star striker Robert Lewandowski will be out of action due to injuries. The news comes as a major setback for the Catalan giants, who have been in scintillating form under new coach Hansi Flick.
Yamal Suffers Ankle Sprain
Lamine Yamal, the 17-year-old prodigy who has taken LaLiga by storm this season, picked up an ankle injury in Barcelona’s Champions League win over Red Star Belgrade last week. The injury forced him to miss the team’s 1-0 loss to Real Sociedad on Sunday.
After undergoing tests on Monday, it was revealed that Yamal has a sprained ankle and is expected to be out for up to three weeks. The talented winger has subsequently withdrawn from the Spain squad for the upcoming UEFA Nations League matches against Denmark and Switzerland.
“It’s a big disappointment for Lamine, but he needs to focus on his recovery now. We have no doubt he’ll come back stronger,” said a source close to the player.
Lewandowski Also Sidelined
To compound Barcelona’s injury woes, talismanic forward Robert Lewandowski also hobbled off during the defeat to Real Sociedad with a back problem. The club has confirmed that the Polish striker will be out for around 10 days.
As a result, Lewandowski will miss Poland’s crucial Nations League games against Portugal and Scotland. His absence will be a huge blow for the national team, who rely heavily on his goalscoring prowess.
Impact on Barcelona’s Season
The injuries to Yamal and Lewandowski couldn’t have come at a worse time for Barcelona. The duo, along with Brazilian winger Raphinha, have been instrumental in the team’s impressive start to the season under Hansi Flick.
- Lewandowski has already netted 19 goals this campaign
- Yamal has contributed 6 goals and 8 assists
- Barcelona sit top of LaLiga and have won 3 out of 4 Champions League games
The Blaugrana will now have to cope without two of their key attacking threats for the upcoming fixtures. They are likely to be without Yamal for the away clash against Celta Vigo on November 23, as well as the Champions League tie with Brest and the home game against Las Palmas.
Controversial VAR Decision
To add insult to injury, Barcelona’s loss to Real Sociedad was marred by a controversial VAR call. Lewandowski had a goal disallowed in the 14th minute for offside, with the semi-automated offside technology deeming him to be marginally ahead of the last defender.
Coach Hansi Flick was left fuming at the decision, branding it “wrong” and a “huge mistake”. The disallowed goal proved to be a turning point, as Barcelona failed to score for the first time under Flick and saw their seven-game winning streak in all competitions come to an end.
“This is not why we have VAR. It was a perfectly good goal and it should have stood,” lamented a visibly frustrated Flick in the post-match press conference.
Looking Ahead
Despite these setbacks, Barcelona will be determined to bounce back after the international break. The club has the depth and quality in their squad to cope with the absence of Yamal and Lewandowski, but there’s no denying that they will be weaker without two of their standout performers this season.
All eyes will be on how Flick adapts his tactics and personnel to compensate for these key absentees. The onus will be on the likes of Raphinha, Ousmane Dembele, and Ferran Torres to step up and fill the void in attack.
As for Yamal and Lewandowski, they will be focused on their recovery and ensuring they return to action as soon as possible. Barcelona fans will be hoping that both players can regain full fitness quickly and help the team maintain their pursuit of silverware on multiple fronts this season.
