Lamine Yamal Sidelined for a Month After Suffering an Ankle Injury vs Leganes

Barcelona’s teenage sensation Lamine Yamal is expected to spend at least a month on the sidelines after suffering an ankle ligament injury during Blaugrana’s match against Leganes in La Liga. This means that Yamal will miss Barcelona’s crunch tie against Atletico Madrid which is scheduled to take place on Saturday.

Following a rough challenge, Lamine Yamal was replaced by fellow La Masia graduate Gavi in the 75th minute. Tests conducted after the game revealed that the 17-year-old winger had suffered a grade-one ankle ligament injury. Barcelona confirmed this news via an official club statement which read, “Tests carried out this morning have shown a grade one injury to the anterior tibiofibular ligament. The player is expected to be out for three to four weeks."  This diagnosis is a massive blow for Hansi Flick, as the teenager has been nothing short of sensational, racking up 18 goal contributions—six goals and 12 assists—in just 21 appearances across all competitions. In La Liga, the young Spaniard has been a creative force, with only Raphinha (60) surpassing his 29 chances created for Barça. But where Yamal truly shines is his dribbling—he’s the undisputed king of take-ons this season, completing a league-best 51 dribbles. 

Lamine Yamal’s absence is a significant blow for Hansi Flick’s Barcelona, especially with some crucial fixtures on the horizon. This weekend, the Blaugrana go head-to-head with second-placed Atletico Madrid, a side that has tasted defeat just once in La Liga this season. After that, Barcelona will travel to take on Segunda División outfit Barbastro FC in the Copa del Rey’s Round of 32, followed by a high-stakes Supercopa de España semifinal clash against Athletic Bilbao on 8th January. If all goes well with Yamal’s recovery, fans can circle 19th January on their calendars—that’s when the prodigy is expected to make his return, as Barcelona take on Getafe in La Liga. 

This isn’t the first time Lamine Yamal has been forced to the sidelines this season due to an ankle injury. Just last month, he missed three crucial games with a separate ankle issue. During that spell, Barcelona managed a Champions League win over Stade Brestois but faltered domestically, suffering a narrow 1-0 loss to Real Sociedad and settling for a 2-2 draw against Celta Vigo in La Liga. Now, with Yamal out again, Barça fans will be hoping their team copes better this time around. The La Liga title race is tighter than ever—Barcelona are level on points with Atlético Madrid and only one point ahead of Real Madrid, who have a game in hand. Every point matters, and without their teenage sensation, the Blaugrana will need to dig deep to stay in the hunt. 

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