It almost sounds made-up, but the numbers don’t lie: it has been nearly six months since Lamine Yamal, Robert Lewandowski and Raphinha last shared a place in Barcelona’s starting XI.
A trident that electrified the team throughout most of last season hasn’t played a single opening minute together under Hansi Flick — a total anomaly considering how decisive they were just a few months ago.

A Season Start Ruined by Injuries

There’s no mystery behind the drought — only frustration:
injury after injury after injury.

• Raphinha missed more than two months with a biceps femoris tear.
• Lamine Yamal was sidelined for nearly a month due to pubic discomfort.
• Lewandowski spent three weeks out after a hamstring injury on international duty.

Three key players.
Three long absences.
And a tactical puzzle Flick hasn’t been able to assemble once since taking over.

During their time out, the German coach had to improvise with options like Marcus Rashford or Ferran Torres — both productive, but unable to replicate the total impact of the original trident.

The Last Time: May 25 at San Mamés

You need to rewind all the way back to May 25, at San Mamés, on the final matchday of the 2023–24 LaLiga season.
Barcelona won 0–3 against Athletic Club, with a Lewandowski brace and a penalty converted by Dani Olmo.

Since that day?
Eighteen official matches without seeing Lamine–Lewandowski–Raphinha start together again.

A Possible Return vs Alavés

That long wait could finally end on Saturday.
All three attackers are recovered, have been easing back into action, and Flick is expected to have the opportunity to field his preferred front line against Alavés.

If that happens, it would be the first time this season Barcelona can unleash their full trident — and a tactical sigh of relief after half a year of emergency gameplans.

A depleted attack… yet still lethal

Ironically, despite not having their strongest attacking trio available, Barcelona remain LaLiga’s top-scoring team with 36 goals — eight more than Real Madrid.

• Lewandowski has eight league goals, still trailing the league’s top scorer Kylian Mbappé, who already sits at thirteen.

Numbers like these highlight one thing:
once Barcelona finally reunite their primary trident, the team’s offensive ceiling could rise several levels.

After six months of waiting, the return of Lamine Yamal, Robert Lewandowski and Raphinha wouldn’t just be a relief —
it would be a statement of intent.