The absence of Lamine Yamal has turned into a nightmare for FC Barcelona, as the team struggles to find solutions without their rising star. The Blaugrana winger, who will miss between three and four weeks due to an ankle injury, leaves a void that Hansi Flick has yet to fill effectively. Barcelona's two league defeats this season came in matches where Yamal was not in the starting lineup, highlighting his importance.

Which Matches Will Lamine Yamal Miss?

Lamine Yamal will sit out the high-stakes LaLiga clash against Atlético de Madrid, followed by Barcelona's debut in the Copa del Rey against Barbastro. His presence in the Supercopa de España semifinal against Athletic Club on January 8 remains uncertain. The Catalans will need to step up without one of their most decisive players.

A Team Struggling Without Yamal

Without Yamal, Barcelona has looked out of sync. The two matches in which the winger was absent—against Real Sociedad and Osasuna—ended in defeat. In San Sebastián, Barça fell 1-0 to a relentless Real Sociedad that exploited every weakness in Flick's lineup. The absence of Yamal's creativity and attacking threat left the Blaugrana toothless, failing to score for the first time this season.

Earlier, in Pamplona, Osasuna overwhelmed a weakened Barcelona 4-2. On that occasion, Yamal started on the bench, only entering late in the match when the score was already out of reach. Despite scoring a late consolation goal, his impact was not enough to rescue his team.

Flick's Struggles to Find a Solution

Hansi Flick's management of Yamal's absence has come under scrutiny. Against Real Sociedad, the German coach opted for Fermín López as a makeshift winger instead of utilizing natural forwards like Ansu Fati or Pau Víctor. The decision backfired, as Barcelona's attack lacked the width and dynamism usually provided by Yamal.

Similarly, in Pamplona, Flick's decision to bench both Yamal and Raphinha proved costly. The front three of Ferran Torres, Robert Lewandowski, and Pau Víctor struggled to break down Osasuna's defense, exposing the team's over-reliance on Yamal.

Optimism for the Supercopa

While the outlook appears bleak, there is cautious optimism that Lamine Yamal could return for the Supercopa de España in January. The youngster has already begun treatment and is targeting the semifinal clash against Athletic Club in Jeddah. His recovery will be closely monitored, as Barcelona looks to bounce back and compete for their first title of the season.

The pressure is mounting on Hansi Flick to find solutions quickly. Without Lamine Yamal, Barcelona risks falling behind in both LaLiga and the upcoming cup competitions. The drama surrounding the young star's absence underlines just how vital he has become for the Blaugrana.