Barcelona is very close to defending its La Liga title, but will finish the season without its most important player, Lamine Yamal.
The Catalan club have confirmed that the young star has suffered a hamstring injury and will not play again this season. His goal now is to recover in time for the 2026 World Cup.
The penalty in the 1-0 win over Celta Vigo was Yamal’s last touch of the ball this season, a goal that helped Barcelona maintain a nine-point lead over Real Madrid at the top of the table with just six games remaining.
His contribution has been decisive, as the top scorer and leader in assists, so his absence presents a major challenge for Hansi Flick.
Barcelona now have to find a way to replace him: The most natural replacement is Roony Bardghji. The 20-year-old has been Yamal’s direct alternative throughout the season and is the only natural right-winger in the squad.
He has shown potential, but has had few minutes. In 24 appearances, he has only started seven times, but most of his contributions have come when he has started. With more confidence, he could give more.
Another option is to change the formation, relying more on the midfield. With the likes of Frenkie de Jong, Pedri and Gavi in good form, Flick could opt for a formation without the classic wingers, placing the likes of Dani Olmo and Fermín López up front in free roles. In this case, the width of the game will come from the full-backs, especially Alejandro Balde.
The strongest solution in the short term remains the return of Raphinha. The Brazilian is out with a similar injury but is expected to return for crucial matches, including El Clasico against Real Madrid. Although he has played more on the left, he could be moved to the right – a position he knows well.
Barcelona will have to survive a few games without Yamal, but the return of Raphinha could be the key to successfully closing out the title race.
