MADRID — Barcelona winger Raphinha’s untimely injury heaps further pressure on teenage star Lamine Yamal ahead of the club’s triple-header against Atletico Madrid.
The Spanish champions will visit Atletico as they bid to maintain or even extend their lead at the top of LaLiga, before two further games against Diego Simeone’s team in the Champions League quarter-finals, AFP reported.
Barca have already faced Atletico three times this season, beating them in LaLiga in December but falling in the Copa del Rey semi-final over two legs.
Without Raphinha, out with a hamstring injury until May, the onus will be on 18-year-old winger Yamal to provide the magic Barca need to proceed on two fronts in the approaching, inevitably intense battles with Atletico.
Barca hold a four-point lead on Real Madrid, who visits Mallorca earlier on Saturday, at the top of the table.
Yamal played for Spain this week in a goalless draw against Egypt in Cornella at Espanyol’s stadium, which was notable for Islamophobic chanting from the home supporters that the teenager, a Muslim, condemned.
“To those who sing these things: using a religion as a form of mockery on a pitch shows you up as ignorant and racist,” wrote Yamal on social media.
Yamal has shown maturity beyond his years since bursting onto the scene as a 15-year-old, including starring for Spain as they won Euro 2024 and blossoming further still as Barca claimed a domestic treble last season.
The youngster, often compared to another graduate from Barca’s La Masia youth academy, Lionel Messi, seems to save his best performances for the biggest occasions.
Yamal netted six times for Barca in his last seven matches across all competitions, and the Catalan giants will hope he can continue that form into the final phase of the season.
He admitted in February that he has not been happy this season, in part due to a long-running groin injury, but lately feels better.
“I have that desire to smile on the pitch that I haven’t had for a long time and I’m very happy, now I’m happy playing,” said Yamal after scoring the first hat-trick of his career, against Villarreal.
In recent weeks, Barca has been dependent on the forward in attack and goalkeeper Joan Garcia at the other end.
Strikers Robert Lewandowski and Ferran Torres have struggled for consistent form, while Marcus Rashford has fallen somewhat out of favour.
Raphinha’s injury opens the door for the England international, on loan from Manchester United, to start on the left again.
Yamal’s pressing and off-the-ball work is an excellent example for Rashford, who, despite his strong contribution in terms of assists, sometimes lacks the relentless energy and focus Flick wants from his forwards.
As well as Raphinha, Barca are also likely to be without Frenkie de Jong at the weekend, but Jules Kounde and Alejandro Balde may be able to return after injury.
