The first El Clasico of the season is just two weeks away, and Barcelona is facing several injury concerns. Joan Garcia will definitely be sidelined, while Raphinha, Fermin Lopez, and Dani Olmo remain doubtful. On a more positive note, Lamine Yamal’s situation appears to be improving.
Following Barcelona’s Champions League loss to Paris Saint-Germain, Lamine Yamal was reported to have re-injured his pubis, an issue he initially faced back in September. Consequently, he was unavailable for last weekend’s disappointing match against Sevilla and will also miss Spain’s World Cup qualifiers.
However, there is optimism that he could return for Barcelona’s upcoming match against Girona. According to Diario AS, it is widely expected that Lamine Yamal will receive medical clearance to participate in the Catalan derby, provided there are no further complications in his recovery.
Return to Training Planned for Wednesday
So far, Lamine Yamal’s recovery has progressed smoothly, and hopes are high that it will continue to do so leading up to next weekend. The plan is for him to rejoin training with his Barcelona teammates on Wednesday, with the intention of coming off the bench against Girona.
If he manages to play without any negative reactions during the Girona match, the plan is for him to start against Olympiacos in Barcelona’s next Champions League game a few days afterward. During that match, he could play for about 65-70 minutes, setting the stage for him to compete unrestricted in the El Clasico against Real Madrid.
Barcelona is eager to have Lamine Yamal available for their match at the Santiago Bernabeu, as his presence would significantly boost their chances of maintaining their unbeaten record in El Clasico.