The Spanish Super Cup in Saudi Arabia pits Barcelona against Athletic Club in the semi-final on Wednesday (January 7), part of a congested early-2026 calendar including La Liga resumption post-holidays.
Amid this, Lamine Yamal has faced an issue which forced him not to train with Barcelona on Wednesday. Yamal's status remains fluid, with expectations that he could still feature if recovery progresses smoothly.
His prior injury history, including groin problems last year, has caused him to miss a few matches for the Spanish club.
Why did Lamine Yamal not train with Barcelona?
Lamine Yamal skipped Barcelona's final training session in Saudi Arabia due to a general feeling of unwellness, raising doubts about his readiness for the Spanish Super Cup semi-final against Athletic Club. While the squad had already arrived for the tournament, the teenage star's absence from the session stemmed from illness rather than failing to travel outright. This precautionary measure highlights Barcelona's careful management of their key talent amid a packed schedule.
Yamal, a vital winger for Hansi Flick's side, dealt with discomfort that kept him out of group training in Jeddah, where the team prepared just 24 hours before kick-off.
Will Lamine Yamal play in the Semifinal?
Club sources described it as a non-serious issue, possibly a stomach virus, allowing him to do individualized work inside the training complex instead. No confirmation emerged on whether this prevented his initial travel, but his early January pattern of minor ailments prompted extra caution. Lamine may feature in the semifinal but is likely to start from the bench.
Barcelona struggle with Injury Issues
Compounding the issue, veteran goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen departed the Saudi camp abruptly after a fresh injury setback, flying back to Spain for assessment. This double hit depleted Barcelona's options ahead of the high-stakes clash, with defender Ronald Araujo also under evaluation. Flick's squad aimed to defend their Super Cup ambitions despite these disruptions.
