Barcelona’s teenage sensation Lamine Yamal has been ruled out for three to four weeks after sustaining an ankle injury during the club’s 1-0 defeat against Leganes over the weekend, the club confirmed on Monday.
The injury comes as a significant blow for the La Liga leaders ahead of crucial fixtures, including a clash with title rivals Atletico Madrid.
The 17-year-old winger, who was part of Spain’s victorious Euro 2024 squad, had to be substituted with 15 minutes remaining in Saturday’s match. Barcelona’s official statement revealed that tests conducted on Monday identified a grade one injury to the anterior tibiofibular ligament of his right ankle.
“Tests carried out this morning have shown a grade one injury to the anterior tibiofibular ligament,” the statement said. “The player is expected to be out for three to four weeks.”
This is Yamal’s second ankle setback in recent weeks. He had previously missed three matches for Barcelona last month due to a similar issue. His absence now means the teenager is set to miss a series of crucial fixtures, including Barcelona’s top-of-the-table showdown against Atletico Madrid on Saturday.
The winger is also likely to sit out the Copa del Rey match against Barbastro and the Spanish Super Cup in January.
Barcelona’s weekend defeat at home to Leganes saw them lose valuable ground in the La Liga title race. The Catalan giants remain level on points with Atletico Madrid at 38, but Atletico has played one game fewer. Real Madrid, meanwhile, is just a point behind and also has a game in hand, intensifying the battle for the top spot.
Yamal’s injury adds to Barcelona’s growing concerns as they look to maintain their title challenge. The young winger has been an integral part of the squad this season, providing creativity and attacking flair. His absence leaves manager Xavi Hernandez with limited options in the wide areas, increasing pressure on other key players to step up.
With pivotal games on the horizon, Barcelona will need to regroup quickly and find ways to adapt without their teenage star. The race for La Liga supremacy remains wide open, and every point will prove crucial as Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid close in.
