Barcelona coach Hansi Flick said on Friday he would ask his players if they can win without injured teenage winger Lamine Yamal. The 17-year-old will miss the visit to face Celta Vigo today in La Liga with an ankle problem.
Table-toppers Barcelona have failed to win the two matches he has not started this season. Yamal was on the bench as Barcelona were beaten 4-2 by Osasuna in September and missed the 1-0 loss at Real Sociedad before the international break. The Catalan giants have won the other 11 league matches they have played during a fine start to the campaign under the German coach.
Asked if his team could win without Spain star Yamal, who has become a vital part of Barcelona’s attack, Flick said he would put that question to the squad. “I will ask the team this tomorrow, I think it’s a good question for them,” he told a news conference. “Lamine is for us very important but we also have to adapt to this – we have players who can play (instead of) him... Lamine cannot play tomorrow, we’ll see when he’s back. It’s important for us that he will (return at) 100 percent.”
Flick would not be drawn on a potential replacement for Yamal, after using Fermin Lopez on the right flank to limited effect at Real Sociedad. “It could be Raphinha, it could be Dani (Olmo), Fermin, Pablo (Torre) or Pau (Victor), we have different options,” added the coach.
Flick also said Gavi was fit enough to start after a long-term injury and a handful of substitute appearances on his way back to fitness. A win for Barcelona could take them nine points clear of Real Madrid before they visit Leganes tomorrow.
Meanwhile, Diego Simeone will complete 700 games in charge of Atletico Madrid when his club hosts Alaves in La Liga this weekend and the Argentine manager said that he was grateful to reach that milestone even as rumours swirl about his future.
Simeone is nearing 13 years in charge of Atletico having taken the job in December 2011 and the 54-year-old has since transformed the side from perennial underdogs to dangerous rivals to Real Madrid and Barcelona.
The club has won two league titles, one Copa del Rey and two Europa League trophies while they also reached the Champions League final twice – losing to city rivals Real on both occasions. They remain a force to be reckoned with and Simeone’s record of 326 clean sheets is a testament to his side’s defensive prowess.
Atletico’s start to the season has led to questions being raised in the media about his future. Atletico are third in LaLiga, seven points behind leaders Barcelona after five draws, while they are a lowly 23rd in the Champions League halfway through the new group stage. Simeone has a contract until June 2027 and is not bothered by speculation
Fixtures (all times GMT)Today: Valencia v Real Betis (1300), Atletico Madrid v Alaves (1515), Girona v Espanyol (1730), Las Palmas v Mallorca (1730), Celta Vigo v Barcelona (2000)
Tomorrow: Osasuna v Villarreal (1300), Sevilla v Rayo Vallecano (1515), Leganes v Real Madrid (1730), Athletic Bilbao v Real Sociedad (2000)
Hansi Flick
