Barcelona's absence of Lamine Yamal in the Champions League game against Newcastle United - An explanation
Barcelona's defence was bolstered by Kounde, Araujo, Cubarsi, and Martin in their UEFA Champions League match against Newcastle United on September 18, 2025. However, one key player was missing - Lamine Yamal.
Yamal, who had been playing through painkillers in Spain's World Cup qualifiers against Bulgaria and Turkey, was sidelined due to pubic bone problems causing him pain and preventing him from training. Barcelona coach Hansi Flick revealed that these injuries were worsened by playing with painkillers during recent Spain national team matches.
The midfield consisted of Pedri, De Jong, with no specific information provided about the player who replaced Rashford. Raphinha, Robert Lewandowski, and Marcus Rashford (when fit) were relied upon in attack, alongside Ferran Torres.
Yamal's injury issues had begun before the international matches, as he played with groin pain. Along with Yamal, Barcelona also missed Gavi (knee), Alejandro Balde (hamstring), and M. Ter Stegen (back) for the Newcastle match.
Newcastle United's midfield consisted of Joelinton, Guimaraes, and Tonali, while their defence included Trippier, Schar, Burn, and Livramento. Upfront, Elanga, Gordon, and Barnes led the attack, with Nick Pope between the posts.
Eddie Howe, Newcastle United's coach, expressed disappointment at Lamine Yamal's absence from the Newcastle game. Barcelona's attack was reshaped due to their injury-depleted squad, with the team showing resilience in the face of adversity.
Hansi Flick recognized the significant demands placed on Lamine Yamal and is focusing on ensuring his safety and minimizing undue strain. With the international break approaching, Barcelona will hope that their star player can recover in time for their next match.
