Lamine Yamal missed Barcelona’s first training session of the year due to minor discomfort, but he is expected to be fit for Saturday’s derby against Espanyol alongside the returning Pedri and Dani Olmo.
Barcelona’s preparations for Saturday’s derby against Espanyol were disrupted when star winger Lamine Yamal missed group training on Thursday.
The 18-year-old forward reported to the Ciutat Esportiva but left shortly after due to “general discomfort.”
Despite the early exit, club officials remain calm regarding his availability for the upcoming clash at the Estadi Cornellà-El Prat. Yamal is expected to return to the final session today to finalize Hansi Flick’s tactical plans.
While Yamal’s status drew focus, Flick received significant boosts elsewhere in the squad.
Pedri continues to train at a high level and is pushing for a competitive return, while Dani Olmo is making steady progress and is likely to be included on the bench.
In a further positive development for the Blaugrana defense, Ronald Araujo has completed another full session with the group, though his inclusion in the matchday squad has not yet been confirmed.
The Catalan giants are using these final sessions to fine-tune an approach for their first major test of 2026.
With key players like Pedri and Olmo nearing full fitness, Barcelona enters the derby with growing momentum.
The medical staff will monitor Yamal closely today, but there is a strong sense within the camp that their most influential attacker will be fit to lead the line in one of La Liga’s most demanding away fixtures.