Barcelona key winger determined to play vs Atletico Madrid amid doubts over availability | OneFootball

As reported a while back, Lamine Yamal did not train with the rest of the Barcelona squad today ahead of their Copa del Rey semi-final first leg against Atletico Madrid.

The Blaugrana winger was on the receiving end of a rash challenge against Las Palmas on Saturday night which left his foot bleeding and bruised.

As such, the 17-year-old sensation did not train with the squad today, raising doubts about his availability to face Los Rojiblancos tomorrow in Montjuic.

Lamine determined to play

Now, SPORT reports that Lamine Yamal has only one thing on his mind – being in peak condition for Tuesday’s Copa del Rey semi-final first leg against Atletico Madrid.

The Barcelona winger did not train with his teammates on Monday, but it is unlikely to prevent the La Masia gem from participating in tomorrow’s match.

As he himself shared on social media, a challenge during Saturday’s Las Palmas vs. Barça match left his left foot bloodied. For this reason, and to ease some muscular strain, Lamine opted to stay off the training pitch on Monday morning.

Determined to play. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)

Instead, the winger remained in the gym, undergoing treatment to ensure he is in the best possible condition for Tuesday’s match – a game he is determined not to miss. In fact, the teenager is confident of being at full fitness and hopes to start.

However, the young star has accumulated a heavy workload in the early stages of 2025. As such, despite his determination to play, the final decision will rest with Hansi Flick, who is carefully managing his squad’s fitness ahead of the crucial phase of the season.

The German coach must decide whether to start Lamine or use him as an impact substitute in the second half, although at the moment, the former outcome seems most likely.

Lamine Yamal understands the importance of the clash against Atletico. His condition in the coming hours will be decisive, but his camp has sent a clear message: he is confident he will be at 100%, and if so, there would be no reason to see him on the bench.

The match holds extra significance for the youngster, who is eager to play after missing Barcelona’s painful defeat to Atletico at Montjuic in their final match of 2024.