Emergency Return Plan: Barca Weighs Unconventional Lopez Start Against Girona
14 October 2025
Emergency Pivot for Barca
Barcelona's coach Hans Flick is preparing to bend the club's usual rules after Dani Olmo's injury sparked an emergency, opening the door for an earlier return of young forward Fermin Lopez.
According to Mundo Deportivo, Lopez is close to medical clearance for the upcoming match against Girona, and Flick is seriously considering starting him, a move rarely seen for a player returning from injury who normally re-enters as a substitute.
Flick believes the moment calls for dropping the caution, given two key factors: first, Olmo's injury has deprived the team of its primary playmaker for roughly two to three weeks, a period packed with La Liga and Champions League games, including the Clasico against Real Madrid.
The second factor is that Lopez's recovery window extended to about four weeks thanks to the current international break, giving him extra time to fully regain his fitness after an expected three-week absence.
Lopez suffered a muscular injury in the left hamstring on September 21 during the closing minutes of Barcelona's match with Getafe.
An initial prognosis of three weeks has already passed by last Sunday, bringing his return into view.
Breakthrough in Barcelona
Training yesterday for Barça ahead of resuming competitions saw the return of the injured Lamine Yamal and Fermin Lopez, before the Girona derby.
Barça trained with several international players missing, but the mood was positive and carried a sense of relief for the squad.
Rafinha continues his recovery from a right thigh strain suffered on September 25; he is expected to be ready for Girona if no complications arise.
Barça will face six matches in 23 days, including the Clasico against Real Madrid on October 26 at the Santiago Bernabéu.
The six-match sequence begins on October 18 with Girona at Montjuïc, then Olympiakos in the Champions League on October 21 at the same venue.
After Olympiakos, Barça will host Elche on November 2, face Club Brugge on November 5, and finish the run with Celta Vigo on November 9.
Plan before the Clasico
Barca's plan with Yamal is to involve him for a few minutes against Girona, paving the way for a likely starter role against Olympiakos in the Champions League, even if a full 90 minutes remains uncertain.
The Blaugrana coaches believe a gradual return for the young star is the safest route to avoid any reoccurrence of injury, while still capitalizing on his energy and pace when it matters most.
It seems the treatment Lamine Yamal has received over the past weeks, including club-provided therapies and targeted strengthening sessions, has borne fruit, and the squad is hopeful he can contribute sooner rather than later.
There’s also a practical emphasis on the schedule: with six games in 23 days, managing load is crucial, especially with a Clasico looming and the Champions League heavy calendar ahead.
The club’s medical staff are monitoring the progression of other injuries, including the absence of goalkeeper Garcia and star pair Gavi and Ter Stegen, who remain sidelined through the end of the year after surgeries on knee and back respectively.
On the injury front to Olmo, initial tests showed a calf strain with a return estimated at roughly three to four weeks, ruling him out of the Clasico and intensifying the coaching staff’s urgency to find attacking solutions.
Barcelona’s attack and midfield are feeling the squeeze, but the coaching staff believes Lopez’s potential early return could reframe the team’s approach as they chase crucial points and a deep European run.
If Lopez can contribute meaningfully this week, Flick’s gamble could pay dividends; if not, the squad will pivot to a more conservative reintroduction of their academy star later in the schedule.
Punchline time: If Lopez scores while still on the physio table, Barca fans will finally believe in miracle-cures.
Punchline two: Flick’s plan is so bold that even the physios bought front-row seats to see if the comeback works in high-definition.
