FC Barcelona's Lamine Yamal Sustains Injury – What's the Team's Strategy Without Him?
FC Barcelona's Lamine Yamal Sustains Injury – What's the Team's Strategy Without Him?
Barcelona's worst apprehensions were validated on Monday, as they announced that their star winger Lamine Yamal is once more injured.
The initial team player, Lamine, sustained a blow to his right ankle during the clash against CD Leganes on Sunday, as per a statement distributed on social media.
Subsequent examinations performed on Monday indicated that the player has suffered a grade 1 ankle ligament injury. The recovery period is estimated to span three to four weeks.
This injury recurrence mirrors the one suffered in early November, which kept the Euro 2024 champion with Spain off the field for a total of 22 days.
As a consequence, Lamine was sidelined for three matches. Two of these absences resulted in losses against Real Sociedad and Celta Vigo, respectively.
This development has sparked speculation about an excessive reliance on the team's 17-year-old, but Hansi Flick now has to devise a strategy for a title race confrontation against Atletico Madrid in Montjuic on Saturday, as well as a Spanish Super Cup encounter with Athletic Club and a potential final a few days later if Lamine fails to recover.
A straightforward solution would be to reinstate Raphinha on the right wing in Lamine's absence, and then place Ferran Torres or Dani Olmo in the vacant left wing position.
Should it be Olmo who obtains the nod, this move would create a central attacking midfield opportunity in Flick's 4-2-3-1 formation.
As recently as the 1-0 loss to Leganes on Sunday, this tactic saw Olmo as the central figure flanked by Lamine and Raphinha, with a double pairing of Pedri and Marc Casado behind him.
With Olmo on the left, Pedri or Fermin Lopez could progress to join him on the forward line, while one of Frenkie de Jong, Gavi, or Pablo Torre partners Casado.
However, a shift to a 4-3-3 formation necessitates Flick to make a selection between Olmo and Ferran if Raphinha moves to the right.
Alternatively, if Raphinha remains on the left, Ferran could replace Lamine directly.
Regardless, it is highly unlikely that Flick would exclude a figure who has primarily served as the team's captain and arguably their standout performer this season, in Raphinha.
In the meantime, Ansu Fati, who has recently recovered from an injury, is unlikely to compete in this positional squabble.
In a 4-3-3 formation with two of Raphinha, Olmo, and Ferran as wingers, Flick once again has to make a decision on his midfield trio among Pedri, Casado, Gavi, Fermin, De Jong, Torre, and perhaps Eric Garcia.
Raphinha could potentially return to the right wing in Lamine Yamal's absence, as suggested by Hansi Flick. This shift could create an opportunity for Ferran Torres or Dani Olmo on the left wing in Flick's 4-2-3-1 formation.
The Spanish Super Cup encounter with Athletic Club and a potential final await Atletico Madrid, and Atletico Madrid are facing a title race confrontation against them on Saturday, with Lamine's injury adding to their concerns.
Should Raphinha move to the left wing, Ferran Torres could replace Lamine Yamal directly in Barcelona's lineup, as Hansi Flick contemplates his team's strategy in response to Lamine's injury.