Lamine Yamal Set to Make His Return for Barcelona Against Las Palmas
Barcelona fans, rejoice! The wait is over. Hansi Flick, the head coach of Barcelona, has confirmed that teenage sensation Lamine Yamal is fit and ready to play in Saturday’s LaLiga clash against Las Palmas. After weeks of uncertainty, the 17-year-old prodigy is back in action following a sprained ankle that sidelined him for three matches. This is the news every Barça supporter has been waiting for!
Yamal’s absence has been felt deeply. The young star missed key games against Real Sociedad, Celta Vigo, and Brest, as well as Spain’s international fixtures against Denmark and Switzerland. His injury, sustained during a Champions League match against Red Star Belgrade on Nov. 6, left a noticeable void in Barcelona’s lineup. Before their 3-0 victory over Brest earlier this week, Barça had failed to win a single game this season without Yamal in the starting XI. Coincidence? We think not.
“Lamine is Back,” Says Flick
Speaking at a press conference on Friday, Flick didn’t hold back his excitement. “Lamine is back, he’s ready to play,” he said. “We will see if he starts or not, we have not decided yet. But he can play, and he will play.” While it remains unclear whether Yamal will start or come off the bench, one thing is certain: his return is a massive boost for Barcelona as they look to maintain their lead at the top of LaLiga.
But Yamal isn’t the only player making headlines. Flick also confirmed that Gavi will start in place of the suspended Marc Casadó. Gavi, who recently returned from an 11-month ACL injury layoff, has been gradually working his way back to full fitness. “After such a long injury, it’s not so easy to come back,” Flick admitted. “He’s in a good way, we can say 100% fit, no doubts about that. He’s a young player, he also has the potential to increase the level of course. But he’s doing good. What I can say, maybe you will be happy for this information, he will play.”
Frenkie de Jong’s Struggles Continue
While the news surrounding Yamal and Gavi is overwhelmingly positive, the same can’t be said for Frenkie de Jong. The Dutch midfielder, who also returned from a long injury layoff in October, has struggled to regain his form. De Jong has played just 17 minutes across Barcelona’s last two games, and Flick acknowledged that the club is working hard to help him recover his confidence.
“Now he has to get back the confidence he needs,” Flick said. “We have to give this. I know it’s important for him also to play. We want to play with the best team we can give at the moment. This is maybe why he has not the minutes maybe he wants; that we want. He will come back, definitely, I am 100% sure, but it takes time.”
Flick also emphasized the depth of talent in Barcelona’s midfield, which has made it challenging to allocate minutes to every player. “At the end, in the midfield we have a lot of really good players. I have to decide. When we can give him minutes, we will give it, but also in the training he has to show us and increase the level. But he’s in a good way and we will help him. It’s our job.”
What’s at Stake?
Barcelona heads into Saturday’s game against Las Palmas with a four-point lead at the top of LaLiga. However, second-placed Real Madrid, who have a game in hand, will be looking to close the gap when they face Getafe on Sunday. With the title race heating up, every point matters, and the return of Yamal could be the spark Barça needs to keep their momentum going.
Key Takeaways
- Lamine Yamal is fit and ready to play against Las Palmas after recovering from an ankle injury.
- Gavi will start in place of the suspended Marc Casadó, marking another step in his comeback journey.
- Frenkie de Jong continues to struggle with confidence and playing time as he works his way back to form.
- Barcelona holds a four-point lead at the top of LaLiga, with Real Madrid close behind.
As Barcelona returns to Camp Nou, all eyes will be on Yamal to see if he can reignite the team’s spark. Will his return be the game-changer Barça needs? Saturday’s match against Las Palmas promises to be a must-watch for fans and rivals alike.
Originally Written by: Sam Marsden
