MADRID, April 23– Barcelona coach Hansi Flick and his Spain counterpart Luis de la Fuente are both waiting nervously for the results on tests on forward Lamine Yamal, after the winger had to be helped off the pitch at Camp Nou on Wednesday night after suffering a hamstring injury in his left leg.
The 18-year-old suffered the injury shortly before halftime as he took the penalty that gave Barcelona a narrow 1-0 win over Celta Vigo.
He had won the penalty after being brought down following a mazy run through the Celta defense.
Images of the winger being helped off the pitch immediately set alarm bells ringing, given that the injury comes just 17 days before Barcelona hosts Real Madrid in the match that could decide this season’s La Liga title, and 50 days before the start of the FIFA World Cup, where he is set to lead the Spain attack.
The timescale means a serious tear would see him miss the rest of the La Liga season and perhaps the start of Spain’s World Cup campaign.
“We have to see what it is. I think there’s something, because he felt it and after the goal he would not leave the pitch without a reason. Hopefully, it’s not so bad,” said Flick after the final whistle.
Yamal has scored 24 goals for Barcelona this season and also laid on 11 assists in La Liga and four in the Champions League, but it is his ability to beat players and create chances from virtually nothing which makes him so vital to club and country.
Barcelona suffered a second injury blow on Wednesday with Joao Cancelo injuring his thigh, and the Portuguese defender will also undergo tests. (Namibia Daily News/Xinhua)
