Lamine Yamal Misses Barcelona Training Ahead of Supercopa
The absence of Lamine Yamal from Barcelona’s final training session before the Supercopa raised concerns, although the club played down the situation and expects the young forward to be available against Athletic Bilbao.
Barcelona’s preparations for the Spanish Supercopa semifinal delivered an unexpected moment. Lamine Yamal did not take part in the team’s final on-field session ahead of the clash with Athletic Bilbao, sparking concern among fans and media just one day before the match.
The club explained that the forward remained inside the training complex in Jeddah, where he carried out individualized physical work. According to Barcelona, the decision was precautionary and not related to a serious injury, and the expectation is that Yamal will be included in the squad for the semifinal.
A Virus Affects His Preparation
Sources close to the team indicated that Lamine Yamal has been dealing with a stomach virus over the past few days, which has left him somewhat weakened. As a result, the coaching staff opted to manage his workload carefully and keep him out of full training to prioritize his recovery.
This is not the first time the young attacker has faced physical issues at the start of the year. During the team’s first training session of January, Yamal was also absent due to general discomfort, a situation that explains the cautious approach taken by Barcelona with one of its most promising talents.
Flick Takes a Cautious Approach Before Key Match
Head coach Hansi Flick did not address Yamal’s absence during his pre-match press conference, as it took place before the training session began. As a result, there was no opportunity to clarify the situation publicly, though internally the club conveyed a message of calm.
All other players who traveled with Barcelona to Saudi Arabia trained as normal, including Ronald Araujo, who continues to be assessed after recent physical issues. Flick planned to speak with the Uruguayan defender after training to determine whether he would be included in the matchday squad, although his involvement was not guaranteed beforehand.
For now, attention remains on Lamine Yamal, but Barcelona are confident that his absence from training was merely a preventive measure. The club expects the teenager to be fit and ready to contribute in a match that represents the first major challenge of the year for the Catalan side.
