Time to rest Lamine Yamal? Barcelona star left training early ahead of Espanyol clash

Barcelona’s teenage prodigy Lamine Yamal departed Thursday’s session at Ciutat Esportiva well before the scheduled conclusion, intensifying debate over whether the 16-year-old winger should be preserved for the demanding weeks ahead rather than risked in Friday’s Catalan derby against Espanyol.

The early exit, confirmed by club observers, comes less than 24 hours before kick-off at Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys and only hours after manager Hansi Flick explained his rationale for repeatedly selecting both Yamal and midfield metronome Pedri in high-intensity fixtures. Speaking to Yahoo Sports, Flick defended the decision to keep the pair in the starting XI, citing their “unique qualities” and “importance to the team’s rhythm,” yet the sight of Yamal leaving the pitch with ice strapped to his left adductor region will fuel calls for rotation.

Barcelona enter the match looking to extend a three-game La Liga winning streak over their city rivals, a run that has seen them outscore Espanyol 8-2 across the past two seasons, per BBC’s head-to-head data. CBS Sports lists Blaugrana as narrow favourites at -125 on the moneyline, but odds compilers have already trimmed the line after news of Yamal’s truncated session spread.

Official team sheets released by the club show Gavi and Pedri retaining their places in midfield, yet Yamal’s status remains officially “under assessment” until the final pre-match medical bulletin. If the Spain youth international is ultimately withheld, Flick would be forced to reshuffle an attack that has relied heavily on the winger’s one-v-one ability and precise final ball.

For Espanyol, any absence of Yamal would represent a welcome boost as they attempt to claw their way out of the relegation zone and claim a first league victory over Barcelona since 2018. Kick-off is set for 21:00 CET with live streaming available on LaLiga TV and ESPN+ in selected regions.