FC Barcelona will not be able to count on Lamine Yamal for their debut in the UEFA Champions League 2025/26. As in the league match against Valencia, the '10' azulgrana was left out of Hansi Flick's official squad against Newcastle due to an injury to the pubis that has become more complicated than expected.
The 18-year-old player returned injured with Spain after the matches against Bulgaria (0-3) and Turkey (0-6). Although the culé winger had muscular discomfort since the last match with Barça (against Rayo), Luis de la Fuente made him play 79 and 73 minutes in both matches of the European qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup.
Lamine, in fact, finished the match against Bulgaria with lower back discomfort and, since matchday 2 of the League against Levante (2-3), he began to feel slight pain in the pubis. The discomfort worsened during the break, leading to pubalgia that could leave him KO with his club for three to four weeks.
Barça waits for the day-to-day evolution of Lamine Yamal
As it is pubalgia, the medical body of Barcelona keeps the 18-year-old player away from the group, performing physiotherapy work and specific treatment to alleviate the pain in the area.
Therefore, the day-to-day evolution will mark Lamine's availability both in the League and in the Champions League. Looking ahead to the match against Getafe, on Sunday the 21st, the winger will also be out for Hansi Flick's side. Raphinha and Roony Bardghji will be in charge of covering his position on the right side of the attack.
And now, the most prudent thing to do will be to give him rest for at least a couple of weeks to avoid more serious complications. Pubalgia, in mild cases, usually requires a recovery of four to six weeks, although Lamine hopes to shorten these deadlines by half.
If this scenario occurs, the '10' azulgrana would reappear in October, perhaps against Paris Saint-Germain in the debut as a local in the Champions League. Yamal infiltrated to play with the National Team against Bulgaria and Turkey, but Barça will not take similar risks at this point in the season.
And, if the discomfort in the pubis worsens, the striker could be out for several more weeks. The key to the success of the treatment depends on the early detection of the ailment and respecting the recovery times. With this, Lamine Yamal could also miss the next three League matches:
- Sunday 21/09/2025: Barcelona vs Getafe, at the Estadi Johan Cruyff for matchday 5 of LaLiga.
- Thursday 25/09/2025: Real Oviedo vs Barcelona, at the Estadio Carlos Tartiere for matchday 6 of LaLiga.
- Sunday 27/09/2025: Barcelona vs Real Sociedad (venue to be confirmed) for matchday 7 of LaLiga.
Lamine Yamal's absence, a relief for Newcastle
Prior to his injury during the break, Lamine was the player in the Barça squad with the most direct participations in goals (4), with a pair of goals and the same number of assists in three LaLiga matches. In the preseason he was also the team's Pichichi, with 4 goals.
In that sense, the '10' was in his best moment and, for Newcastle, his absence on Thursday will be a relief, although Barça has enough offensive weapons to avoid exclusive dependence on Yamal. For example, the thrashing of Valencia (6-0).
"It's a shame he can't play, it's disappointing not to be able to see a footballer like that. They have talented players on the wings. We have to be strong," commented the coach of the 'magpies', Eddie Howe, in the press conference prior to the match.
Now, Lamine Yamal's main objective will be to be available and physically fit for matchday 2 of the Champions League, against PSG. Before, next Monday (22), the Mataró native will know if 'France Football' will give him the Ballon d'Or 2025, an award for which he is a clear favorite along with his former teammate Ousmane Dembélé. The 'Mosquito' is a confirmed absence against Barça.