When Yamal Hits Pause: Barcelona's Rising Star Faces a Return Hurdle
3 octobre 2025
Injury Update and Return Timeline
The Spanish star Lamine Yamal, Barcelona’s rising talent, will miss upcoming matches after another setback in the same groin area that had sidelined him for weeks. The news arrives as Barça seeks stability in a crowded fixture window and the youngster laboring to regain best form.
The forward left the Paris Saint‑Germain game with a limp, clearly feeling pain in the same region, and Barça confirmed on Friday that he will be sidelined for roughly two to three weeks. The club’s statement stressed careful monitoring and a return timetable that hinges on his progress in the coming days.
In its official note, the club said: “Lamine Yamal is dealing with groin pain following the Paris match. He will miss the Sevilla game and is expected to recover within two to three weeks.”
Matches He Will Miss and Possible Comeback
The Spanish newspaper Mundo Deportivo reported that after the setback, Yamal’s absence could stretch to three weeks. The club’s main goal is to overcome the pain and return to full fitness before the Clasico against Real Madrid on October 26 in La Liga, a match that will test Barcelona’s depth and his fitness timing.
Initially, Yamal will not join the Spain squad for European qualifiers, missing the Georgia clash in Elche on October 11 and the Bulgaria match in Valladolid on October 14, as part of a bid to qualify for the 2026 World Cup.
For the club, Yamal will miss the Sevilla fixture on Sunday in round eight of La Liga, and his chances of featuring against Girona on October 18 look slim, given the two-week gap since the injury occurred. The outlook remains fluid, with a late return possible if progress accelerates.
However, Mundo Deportivo notes a potential return against Olympiakos in the Champions League on October 21, the last match before the Clasico. Even then, participation would depend on his condition and how many minutes he can safely handle against the Greek side.
Controversy Over Barça and Spain Selection
There has been wide debate about whether Yamal should join the Spain squad for European qualifiers. Barça prefers that he stay to continue treatment and recovery, while Spain’s coach Luis de la Fuente insists on including him for the squad.
De la Fuente announced the October squad for the Matador, with two home qualifiers against Georgia (Elche, Oct 11) and Bulgaria (Valladolid, Oct 14), part of World Cup qualifying for the 2026 tournament held in the United States, Canada and Mexico with 48 teams. Despite medical reservations from Barcelona, the coach called up Yamal, who had recently recovered from a muscle injury that kept him out for about three weeks, before returning as a substitute and later starting against PSG in the Champions League.
Yamal’s Season in Numbers
Since the season’s start, Yamal has shown bright form in La Liga, appearing in four matches with six direct goal contributions: two goals and four assists. In Round 1 against Mallorca, he scored and assisted in a 3‑0 win; in Round 2 against Levante, he provided two assists in a 3‑2 victory; he then scored Barcelona’s lone goal in a 1‑1 draw with Rayo Vallecano. An injury sidelined him for three league games, after which he returned to assist in a 2‑1 win over Real Sociedad, confirming his direct impact when on the pitch.
In the Champions League, he missed the first game against Newcastle United due to injury, then played the full match against Paris Saint‑Germain, a game Barcelona lost 2‑1, with Yamal not scoring or assisting. Barcelona has started the season strong domestically, remaining unbeaten in La Liga and recording wins at home against Valencia, Getafe, and Real Sociedad, while away they beat Mallorca, Levante and Real Oviedo and drew with Rio Vallecano, collecting 19 points and sitting a point behind Real Madrid in the standings. In Europe, Barça collected three points from two matches, topping a group that saw a 2‑1 loss to PSG after a 2‑1 win over Newcastle United.
