Barcelona head coach Hansi Flick has confirmed that teenage winger Lamine Yamal is available for selection ahead of Saturday’s Spanish LaLiga clash against Las Palmas.
The 17-year old has missed Barcelona’s last three matches in all competitions and was unavailable for his country during November international break after being sidelined by an ankle injury.
The Catalan giants are yet to win a Laliga match since his injury and his return is a timely boost as they look to increase their lead over rivals Real Madrid.
“He’s back and he’s ready to play. We haven’t decided [if that will be] from the start, but I think he’ll be able to play”, Flick told reporters.
Barcelona lost to Real Sociedad and were held to a 2-2 draw in their last league match by Celta Vigo as they missed Yamal’s trickery and pace on the wing.
Their only victory without the teenage sensation was the 3-0 thrashing of French side Brest in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday.
The Spanish youngster who won the 2024 Golden Boy award has scored six goals and provided a further eight in sixteen appearances in all competitions this season.
Yamal became the youngest ever goalscorer in an El clasico when he scored his side’s third in the 4-0 victory over Real Madrid in October and will be in contention for a start for the Blaugrana on Saturday.
Barcelona are four points ahead of second-placed Real Madrid having played a game more and will look to increase their lead over their rivals when they host the 17th-placed Las Palmas side this weekend.
Olakitan is a young writer with a strong passion for sports, having gained experience with IndyPress and Nimelssa Press. His enthusiasm for sports inspired him to cover events both within his school and beyond. With a deep understanding of the game and a refined skillset, he brings sports coverage to a broad, global audience in a way that’s engaging and accessible.
