Barcelona Derby Dilemma: Will Olmo Miss the Catalan Clash with Espanyol?
31 December 2025
Derby Dilemma: Olmo's Availability in Question
Barcelona could be without one of their brightest stars for the Catalan derby against Espanyol after a shoulder problem resurfaced. The team travels to their city rivals on Saturday, January 3, for La Liga matchday 19.
Olmo's Status and Barca's Plan
According to Sport, Dani Olmo did not take part in first‑team training on Wednesday as Barca prepared for the derby, with head coach Hansi Flick unable to count on him for the moment. The midfielder continued training on his own and did not join the group sessions.
The report notes Olmo had previously suffered a shoulder dislocation in December during the win over Atletico Madrid, when he scored Barca's second goal in a 3-1 victory.
The club's plan is to reintegrate Olmo gradually and potentially bring him on in the late stages of the match if required.
Olmo has been a regular starter, but a run of injuries has hampered his consistency this season.
Humor insert: If Olmo does miss out, Barca will still try to win the derby with a lot of patience, a dash of luck, and perhaps a better-than-average coffee between sessions.
Punchline: And if the bench starts cheering like a comedy club, just remember—football is the only stage where a shoulder can steal the spotlight from the goal.
