New Yamal blow threatens to derail Barcelona's season

Tom Weber

• Updated: 16 Dec 2024 09:10 CST
• 3 min read

Lamine Yamal has suffered a new injury and is expected to be out for a month in what could prove a disastrous turn of events for Barcelona's season.

The 17-year-old wonderkid has been nothing short of sensational for Barcelona since his emergence in 2023 and his importance to the side has only increased this season.

Yamal finished eighth in this year's Ballon d'Or voting, scooped the Kopa Trophy and was recently named the Golden Boy 2024. On Sunday, he was presented with the latter trophy ahead of Barcelona's clash with promoted Leganes, but the game was anything but a celebration.

READ MORE: Official - Barcelona wonderkid Lamine Yamal wins 2024 Golden Boy award

Barcelona, who have been in dire form in LaLiga in recent weeks, fell to a shock 1-0 defeat and, perhaps even more worrying, Yamal suffered a fresh injury blow.

How long will Yamal be out for?

The Blaugrana have announced that Yamal has sustained an injury to his ankle ligament and will be out for up to a month. This is horrendous news for the player and the club as Barcelona have been incredibly reliant on the teenager.

They enjoyed a spectacular start to the season but there has been a night and day difference in their form and results when the winger has not been on the pitch.

The last thing Barcelona needed in their current slump was a new injury to their talismanic attacker and his absence could doom a season that started off so promisingly.

READ MORE: Five Barcelona players who could leave in January

Real Madrid, though they too dropped points at the weekend, have cut Barcelona's erstwhile insurmountable lead atop LaLiga down to just one point, while Atletico Madrid have quietly gone level on points with the Catalans.

Naturally, Barcelona's next game will see them square up with Diego Simeone's in-form Atletico, who have only lost once in the league so far this term. Additionally, Hansi Flick's men will face Real Madrid slayers Athletic Club in the Supercopa semi-final on January 8.

Barcelona will also be without Yamal for their next Copa del Rey fixture, albeit they are expected to easily beat fourth-tier Barbastro. Still, these are games that could potentially define the club's season and given their current form, getting results won't be easy without Yamal.