Hansi Flick challenges five Barcelona players to step up in Lamine Yamal absence

Barcelona coach Hansi Flick has challenged his team to perform without teenage prodigy Lamine Yamal, who remains sidelined through injury.

Yamal suffered an ankle problem during a Champions League game against Red Star Belgrade earlier this month and was forced to miss international duty with Spain last week. There was hope he might return for this weekend's La Liga clash against Celta Vigo but it has not been the case.

The 17-year-old has been in a strange position where, despite his age, he has been arguably Barcelona's most influential player since the early stages of last season. Already in 2024/25, he has 14 goals and assists in 16 appearances and is better than Lionel Messi was at the same age.

The only game Barcelona have played without him during this injury absence was the defeat to Real Sociedad just before the international break, in which the Catalans drew a blank.

"I will ask the team [if they can win games without Yamal]. I think it's a good question for them," Flick responded at a press conference when asked about the teenager's impact.

"Against Real Sociedad we didn't play very well, so that was the reason, [it was] not about Lamine not playing. Lamine is for us very important, but we also have to adapt to this.

"We have players who can play for him [on the right]. It could be [Raphinha], it could be Dani [Olmo], it could be Fermin [Lopez], it could also be Pablo [Torre] or Pau [Victor]."

With Real Madrid not in action until Sunday, Barcelona have the opportunity in Vigo to pile the pressure on their injury-plagued rivals by opening up a nine-point cushion in the league standings. Madrid already have one game in hand, but points on the board are more valuable.

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