Barcelona set special recovery plan for Lamine Yamal ahead of El Clasico | OneFootball

After captivating the football world with his dazzling performances, Lamine Yamal is facing a challenging start to the 2025–26 season. The FC Barcelona star has been forced to miss several matches due to recurring physical problems, and his fitness has become a point of discussion between the club and the Spanish national team.

The 18-year-old winger missed Barcelona’s 4–1 defeat against Sevilla because of a groin issue, which has also ruled him out of the ongoing international break. However, according to Mundo Deportivo, the youngster is working tirelessly during this period to recover full fitness. His main objective is to be in top condition for El Clásico at the end of October.

Both the player and the club’s coaching staff remain optimistic, as his recovery has shown significant progress. Lamine is following a special recovery plan supervised by Barcelona’s medical and fitness teams.

The plan includes specific recovery and strengthening sessions at the Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper, where he will train from Monday to Friday. Unlike his teammates, who stayed in Barcelona and were given three days off, Yamal will have one fewer rest day to continue his recovery work.

The schedule designed for his return is gradual yet ambitious. If all goes according to plan, Lamine Yamal will get between 30 and 45 minutes of playing time against Girona, which would serve as his first test after the injury.

He is then expected to feature in the starting lineup for the Champions League match against Olympiacos, where he would play 60 to 70 minutes as part of his final preparation.

The ultimate goal remains El Clásico against Real Madrid on October 26. The coaching staff and Hansi Flick are planning everything so that Lamine reaches peak condition for this crucial fixture. Flick views the young winger as an essential player because of his creativity and ability to change the course of games, and wants him fully ready for one of the season’s defining encounters.

Meanwhile, Barcelona are also set to welcome back Raphinha and Fermin Lopez, who have been recovering from hamstring and iliopsoas injuries, respectively. Both are expected to return for the Girona match, likely starting on the bench as they work their way back to full match fitness.