Alarm bells for Barça (and Spain) as hamstring injury sidelines Lamine Yamal

FC Barcelona faced Celta Vigo at Spotify Camp Nou as part of the LaLiga round of 32 matchday. Hansi Flick were looking for the win to regain their nine point lead at the top of the table after Real Madrid beat Deportivo Alaves on Tuesday night.

The stands at the stadium fell silent in the 39th minute of the match when Lamine Yamal had to be substituted due to injury.

The Spanish international slotted home the opening goal of the game and just seconds later pulled up realising that all was not well with his left leg.

The 18-year-old slumped on the pitch and, just a few minutes later, had to leave the field, looking visibly distressed.

As yet, there has been no information from the Catalan club and the scare (which looked like a hamstring issue) will also send shockwaves through Spanish football with just 50 days to go until the 2026 World Cup kicks off.

Hamstring issue

As we await for an official medical bulletin from FC Barcelona, many medical experts have taken to social media offering their insight as to the condition that sidelined the player. A serious hamstring pull or tear seems to be the prognosis with a scan set to be conducted tomorrow to determine the precise nature of the problem.

Get closer to the game! Whether you like your soccer of the European variety or that on this side of the pond, our AS USA app has it all. Dive into live coverage, expert insights, breaking news, exclusive videos, and more. Plus, stay updated on NFL, NBA and all other big sports stories as well as the latest in current affairs and entertainment. Download now for all-access coverage, right at your fingertips – anytime, anywhere.

And there’s more: check out our TikTok and Instagram reels for bite-sized visual takes on all the biggest soccer news and insights.