Barcelona moved closer to winning its second Spanish championship with a 1-0 victory over Celta de Vigo this Wednesday (22), but the triumph was overshadowed by an injury to Lamine Yamal, who scored the goal that defined the game in the first half from a penalty.
With six games remaining, Barcelona lead the standings with 82 points, nine ahead of Real Madrid who have 73. The result keeps the reigning champions firmly in control of the title race, although concern now centers around Yamal, with a derby looming in two weeks and the World Cup less than 50 days away.
According to the newspaper Mundo Deportivo, the athlete suffered a rupture in his left hamstring. According to the publication, the recovery time would be five weeks, which means he would be back in time for the start of the World Cup.
The star took the penalty with a strong low shot into the goalkeeper’s left corner. However, their celebration was short-lived. Yamal immediately fell to the grass holding what appeared to be the back of his left thigh. He limped off the field with the help of team doctors, heading straight to the locker room to be replaced.
“We just hope that Yamal’s injury is not serious,” said midfielder Pedri.
“We don’t know yet and I imagine we will have to wait for the medical tests tomorrow, but I am optimistic because he is young and should recover soon,” he added.
Barça controlled possession, but Celta threatened first, with Pablo Duran being stopped by Joan Garcia, who flew in to make a spectacular one-handed save, palming a shot across the field in the first minute.
Celta striker Ferran Jutgla wasted a golden opportunity in the 15th minute, shooting over from close range when the visitors should have opened the scoring.
However, Yamal proved decisive by forcing the penalty which he converted before leaving the game.
It was the second forced substitution for coach Hansi Flick before half-time, with full-back Joao Cancelo also leaving early with a leg injury.
A tepid second half offered little to cheer the crowd. Ferran Torres thought he had doubled the lead in the 55th minute with a well-aimed volley from inside the box, but VAR ruled him offside by the slimmest of margins following Pedri’s long pass down the right.
Barça held on to the result, but Yamal’s condition may be the most talked about topic.
