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Barcelona winger Raphinha’s untimely injury heaps further pressure on teenage star Lamine Yamal ahead of the club’s triple-header against Atletico Madrid.
The Spanish champions visit Atletico on Saturday as they bid to maintain or even extend their lead at the top of La Liga, before two further games against Diego Simeone’s team in the Champions League quarter-finals.
Barca have already faced Atletico three times this season, beating them in La Liga in December but falling in the Copa del Rey semi-final over two legs.
Without Raphinha, out with a hamstring injury until May, the onus will be on 18-year-old winger Yamal to provide the magic Barca need to proceed on two fronts in the approaching inevitably intense battles with Atletico.
Barca hold a four-point lead on Real Madrid, who visit Mallorca earlier on Saturday, at the top of the table.
Yamal played for Spain this week in a goalless draw against Egypt in Cornella at Espanyol’s stadium, which was notable for Islamophobic chanting from the home supporters that the teenager, a Muslim, condemned.
“To those who sing these things: using a religion as a form of mockery on a pitch shows you up as ignorant and racist,” wrote Yamal on social media.
Yamal has shown maturity beyond his years since bursting onto the scene as a 15-year-old, including starring for Spain as they won Euro 2024 and blossoming further still as Barca claimed a domestic treble last season.
The youngster, often compared to another graduate from Barca’s La Masia youth academy, Lionel Messi, seems to save his best performances for the biggest occasions.
Yamal netted six times for Barca in his last seven matches across all competitions, and the Catalan giants will hope he can continue that form into the final phase of the season.
He admitted in February that he has not been happy this season, in part due to a long-running groin injury, but lately feels better.
Agence France-Presse
Spanish League fixtures
Saturday: Real Sociedad vs Levante (1200), Mallorca vs Real Madrid (1415), Real Betis vs Espanyol (1630), Atletico Madrid vs Barcelona (1900)
Sunday: Getafe vs Athletic Bilbao (1200), Valencia vs Celta Vigo (1415), Real Oviedo vs Sevilla (1630), Alaves vs Osasuna (1900)
Monday: Girona vs Villarreal (1900)
