Lamine Yamal ‘ready to play’ for Barcelona; Fermin Lopez, Gavi, Dani Olmo could feature vs Sevilla
Lamine Yamal is in line to play for Barcelona on Sunday despite being forced to leave international duty with Spain with a hamstring injury.
The 17-year-old forward withdrew from the Spain squad and returned to Barcelona for assessment last week after picking up the issue in the Nations League win over Denmark.
Tests later confirmed the teenager, who has scored four goals and added five assists this season, had suffered a hamstring strain but Hansi Flick is expecting him to be available for the visit of Sevilla on Sunday.
The game marks the start of a crucial seven-game period for Barcelona, who host Bayern Munich in the Champions League three days later before travelling to Real Madrid for the Clasico the following Sunday.
Asked whether he would consider resting Yamal, Flick said: “Tomorrow is Sevilla, which is an important match. The starting eleven will be the best to beat Sevilla.
“We can see Lamine playing, that’s our idea. The way we saw him here was very good, so I also want to thank the Spanish FA because I think they made the right call. Now he is ready to play.
“I had been on the other side, and this is not easy for the national manager. I think it’s a big honor also for Lamine to represent Spain. I think that what we have done, with the national coach, is the right way to take care of players.”
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Flick could also welcome Dani Olmo, Fermin Lopez and Gavi back from injury for the game with all three possibilities to be involved in some form, either from the start or off the bench.
“I can confirm that they are with us, and they will be in the team tomorrow,” he said. “Let’s see if they play. I think we have to look differently to Gavi, because he comes from a very long injury.
“I like to see him training, his mentality and his quality. Fermin is the same, but he is a different case and might be able to play. Dani Olmo can be on the bench, but the focus is more on Wednesday for him.”
One player unlikely to feature is Wojciech Szczesny. The veteran goalkeeper joined the club on a free transfer earlier this month as cover following the season-ending injury to first-choice goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen.
Inaki Pena has deputised for Barca in Ter Stegen’s absence with Flick set to stick with the 25-year-old.
“I’m happy he (Szczesny) is saying that he is ready,” he said. “But I think there is no reason to change the goalkeeper. Inaki Pena will start tomorrow.”
Barcelona lead rivals Real Madrid by three points at the top of La Liga after eight wins and just a single defeat from their opening nine games of the season.
(Juan Manuel Serrano Arce/Getty Images)
