FC Barcelona today play host to Atlético Madrid at the Estadi Lluís Companys in the first leg of the semi-finals of the Copa del Rey. The main doubt for the azulgrana team is whether they will be able to count on Lamine Yamal.
Barça prepared for the match against Atlético Madrid, the first leg of the Copa semifinals, on Monday morning, with the absence of Lamine Yamal. The winger did not take to the field as a precaution after the stomp he received in Saturday’s match against Las Palmas. After training, coach Hansi Flick explained the international’s absence. The Barça coach spoke about the winger’s condition ahead of the cup match. “We’ll have to wait and see. I see it all as positive. We’re looking forward to having him with us.”
Lamine Yamal has not scored in a few games, but his contribution to the team is undeniable. He is a born dribbler, which makes him one of the players who receives the most fouls in LaLiga, but above all he stands out for his vision of the game and his ability to set up goals for his teammates. On Saturday he made a perfect pass to Dani Olmo to open the scoring against Las Palmas. It was his 15th assist of the season for Yamal in 33 games in all competitions and, in LaLiga, the winger has already provided 13 assists this season.
Without Lamine, Barça don’t get going
His absence has not been confirmed, but the Azulgrana would feel his absence greatly as he is indispensable and, when he is not there, he is sorely missed. And the numbers speak for themselves. When the winger is not there, Barça do not know what it is to win in the league. Specifically, without Lamine, FC Barcelona’s record is one point out of a possible nine, with defeats against Real Sociedad (1-0) and Atlético (1-2), as well as a draw with RC Celta (2-2). What’s more, even if they do get playing time, if they don’t start, life also gets complicated for Hansi Flick’s team in the domestic competition. They lost 4-2 in Pamplona against Osasuna and 2-1 against Las Palmas in Montjuïc.
We will have to see if he finally makes it, as he intends, to this Tuesday’s game at 21:30 in Montjuic where Barça host Atlético looking to win comfortably so that, at the beginning of April, he can calmly enjoy the return leg at the Metropolitano. One of the titles of the season is at stake.