Online Reporter
WITH teenage star Lamine Yamal out injured for the rest of the season, Barcelona visit Getafe today in LaLiga looking for ways to cope without him and protect a nine-point lead on Real Madrid in the Spanish football title race.
Hansi Flick’s side have a sizable advantage on their arch-rivals, but with wingers Yamal and Raphinha hurt, Los Blancos believe they can turn the heat up on the Catalans.
Barca host Madrid on May 10 in a LaLiga Clasico which is a big opportunity for Alvaro Arbeloa’s team to make a late surge to claim the trophy.
Flick’s team will want to arrive on that day still maintaining their lead on Madrid as insurance against a possible defeat, something they can guarantee as a minimum with wins at Getafe and Osasuna in their next two games.
However, the stricken Yamal has been a decisive figure for his team this season, with 24 goals and 18 assists across all competitions in 45 matches.
Yamal will miss the remainder of Barcelona’s season but is expected to be fit in time for the FIFA World Cup.
The club confirmed the injury on Thursday, stating that Yamal “will follow a conservative treatment plan” and will miss the remainder of the league season, though he is “expected to return in time for the World Cup”.
“This injury leaves me off the field at the time I most wanted to be, and it hurts more than I can explain,” Yamal posted on Instagram on Thursday.
“It hurts not being able to fight with my team-mates, not being able to help when the team needs me. But I believe in them and I know they’re going to drop their souls in every game.”
Brazil international Raphinha, a key figure on Barca’s left flank, is set to miss the visit to face Getafe, but might return for the trip to Osasuna on May 2.
The onus is on figures who have fallen out of favour under Flick to get Barcelona over the line in the title race.
Sweden winger Roony Bardghji has barely featured this season, playing fewer than 500 minutes in LaLiga, with Yamal the clear first choice on the right flank.
The Spaniard has shown his dismay at being substituted and Flick tends to give the 18-year-old as many minutes as possible, limiting Bardghji’s chances.
FIXTURES
Today: Alaves v Mallorca (2pm), Getafe v Barcelona (4:15pm), Valencia v Girona (6:30pm), Atletico Madrid v Athletic Bilbao (9pm)
Tomorrow: Rayo Vallecano v Real Sociedad (2pm), Real Oviedo v Elche (4:15pm), Osasuna v Sevilla (6:30pm), Villarreal v Celta Vigo (9pm) – AFP Sport
