Lamine Yamal in race to face Chelsea after Barcelona make 'surprise' injury decision

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·11. November 2025

Lamine Yamal in race to face Chelsea after Barcelona make 'surprise' injury decision

The young star continues to nurse a niggling groin injury

Barcelona have been left sweating over the fitness of Lamine Yamal ahead of their Champions League showdown with Chelsea.

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Yamal underwent treatment on his pubulgia on Monday and was subsequently removed from Spain’s squad ahead of their World Cup qualifiers against Georgia and Turkey.

The Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) said they were “surprised” by news of Yamal’s treatment, which they described as “invasive”.

“The Medical Services of the RFEF wish to express their surprise and discomfort after learning at 13:47 on Monday, November 10, the day of the start of the official training camp with the national team, that player Lamine Yamal had undergone an invasive radiofrequency procedure for the treatment of his pubic discomfort that same morning,” a statement from the RFEF read.

“This procedure was carried out without prior communication to the medical staff of the National Team, with knowledge of the details only through a report received at 22:40 last night, which indicated the medical recommendation of rest for 7-10 days.

“Given this situation, and prioritising at all times the health, safety, and well-being of the player, the Royal Spanish Football Federation has made the decision to release the athlete from the current call-up.

“We are confident that he will recover well and wish him a speedy and full recovery.”

Feud: Spain and Barcelona have a tense relationship over injuries

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Yamal has been suffering with pubulgia, a chronic groin issue, since the start of September, but played for Barcelona as they beat Celta Vigo 4-2 last weekend and was included in Luis de la Fuente’s Spain Squad for the upcoming internationals.

Having now undergone treatment in a bid to solve the issue, Yamal will return to Barcelona to rest for up to 10 days.

Barcelona take on Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in two weeks, on November 25, leaving Yamal, who has 12 goals and assists in all competitions this season, in a race against time to be fit for the crucial Champions League clash.

Barcelona sit just two points outside the automatic qualification places for the knockout rounds. They are level on points with Chelsea, after taking seven points from their opening four league phase games.