Barcelona’s title charge has been dealt a blow with the news that star forwards Robert Lewandowski and Lamine Yamal have sustained injuries that will sideline them for the upcoming international break.
Lewandowski, who has been in scintillating form this season, suffered a back injury in Sunday’s 1-0 defeat at Real Sociedad. The Polish striker had a goal controversially disallowed in the match, adding to his frustration. Barcelona confirmed that Lewandowski is experiencing discomfort in the lumbar region of his back and will be rested for approximately 10 days.
The 36-year-old will miss Poland’s Nations League fixtures against Portugal and Scotland but is expected to return for Barcelona’s La Liga clash at Celta Vigo on November 23.
Meanwhile, Yamal, who has impressed with his performances this season, missed Sunday’s game with a right ankle injury. The 17-year-old is expected to be out of action for between two and three weeks, according to the club.
Yamal will miss Spain’s matches against Denmark and Switzerland during the international break, as well as Barcelona’s trip to Vigo. He is also a doubt for the home Champions League game against Brest on November 26 and the subsequent La Liga encounter with Las Palmas.
The injuries to Lewandowski and Yamal come at an inopportune time for Barcelona, who are currently six points clear at the top of La Liga but have played one game more than Real Madrid. The Catalans are also sixth in their Champions League group with nine points, needing a positive result in their remaining fixture against Brest to secure qualification for the knockout stages.
Lewandowski has been Barcelona’s talisman this season, scoring 17 goals in all competitions, including 12 in La Liga. Yamal, meanwhile, has netted six goals in his 15 appearances, showcasing his potential as a future star.
Barcelona will hope that both players can recover quickly and return to action as soon as possible. Their absence will undoubtedly be a challenge for the team, but they will need to find a way to cope if they want to maintain their title challenge and progress in the Champions League.
