Barcelona Can't Win Without Lamine Yamal: Here Are the Numbers ...
FC Barcelona once again felt the absence of Lamine Yamal in their match against Celta at Balaídos, marking the second consecutive game without the young talent in the starting lineup. The ankle injury continues to plague the youngster, who missed another match in which Barcelona lacked his dynamism and ability to unbalance opponents in attack.
Despite Xavi Hernández making some rotations, with Gavi, Pedri, and Casadó in midfield, Barcelona struggled to find the attacking spark needed to make a difference. Xavi's tactical setup, with Dani Olmo on the left, Raphinha on the right, and Lewandowski as the central striker, didn’t quite work, and the attack suffered, particularly in terms of pressing and generating fluid offensive play. Although Lewandowski scored and came close to sealing the game with a shot that hit the post, the team couldn't impose its game, and Celta managed to contain Barcelona’s attacking pressure.
Without Lamine Yamal, Barcelona Loses Effectiveness
The worrying statistic is becoming clear: in the three matches where Barcelona has not had Lamine Yamal from the start, the team has only managed to collect one point from a possible nine. The absence of the young player seems to have directly affected the team's offensive capabilities, as they have struggled to find the same fluidity and intensity without him on the pitch.
This trend started becoming visible back in September when, in the match against Osasuna in Pamplona, Xavi decided to rest Lamine from the beginning. Even though he came on in the 59th minute with Barcelona trailing 2-1, his presence wasn’t enough to change the game's dynamic, and although he scored a late goal, the team lost 4-2. However, it was in Anoeta where the full impact of his absence was felt. The attack looked predictable and disorganized, unable to create space or depth on the right wing, which was left up to Koundé’s runs and Fermín, who was deployed as a false winger but constantly drifted inside.
Against Celta, the same pattern emerged. Without Lamine Yamal, Barcelona struggled to find their rhythm and offensive creativity. Despite dominating possession and having several chances, the team looked sloppy and lacking depth. The three goals scored in these three games without the youngster contrast sharply with the attacking power they showed earlier in the season, highlighting Barcelona’s dependency on Lamine in Xavi's system.
Additionally, the team conceded five goals in those three matches without him, reinforcing the idea that Lamine's presence not only boosts the attack but also plays a role in maintaining defensive balance. His ability to apply high pressure and quickly recover the ball seems crucial for Barcelona to regain control and pose a threat in the opposition's half.
The Challenge of Recovering Lamine Yamal
With a tough month ahead, Barcelona will need to find ways to adapt to the absence of their young prodigy. While Lamine continues his recovery process, Xavi will have to adjust his tactical setup and find new ways to inject dynamism into the attack. The team cannot afford more setbacks if they hope to stay in the hunt for the top spots in La Liga and advance in European competitions.
The season is far from over, but Barcelona must be aware of the importance of getting Lamine Yamal back as soon as possible. Without him, the team has appeared limited, and while Lewandowski and other players have stepped up, it’s clear that Barcelona needs the young talent now more than ever to regain the explosiveness that has been missing in recent matches.
Lamine Yamal Nasraoui Ebana
FC Barcelona
