Positive signs for Barcelona as they overcome reliance on injured talisman | OneFootball

In the recent past, the injury of Lamine Yamal has often translated to a lull period for FC Barcelona. It was evident last season when the team’s performances and results fell off when he was unavailable.

However, during the final phase of this campaign, the Catalans have been starting to show positive signs when playing out without their talismanic winger.

With Lamine currently sidelined with an injury that has ruled him out for the remainder of the season, Barcelona have performed admirably without their star man.

Reduced reliance on Yamal

As highlighted by MARCA, Barcelona have played nine matches without Yamal this season across all competitions and have lost just one of them.

That is a remarkable turnaround compared to the 2024-25 campaign, when the team went five matches without him and failed to win three, with all three setbacks coming in La Liga.

Barcelona have done well without Yamal this season. (Photo by Carlos Alvarez/Getty Images for Laureus)

Last season, Yamal missed three November fixtures due to an ankle injury, with Barcelona losing to Real Sociedad, drawing with Celta and beating Brest in the Champions League. He also missed the Atletico Madrid match in December, which ended in a 2-1 defeat.

It has been quite different this time around. In Yamal’s nine absences, Barcelona have beaten Valencia, Newcastle, Getafe twice, Real Oviedo, Slavia Prague and Osasuna. Their only defeat came in matchday eight, a 4-1 loss at Sevilla.

Yamal will now miss a further four matches due to his hamstring injury, bringing his total absences for the season to 13.

But with the title virtually secured, Barcelona have demonstrated clearly that they have reduced their reliance on the star man, who is expected to be available for the World Cup, although the Catalans remain anxious about his fitness.