Sports
Barcelona Coach Explains Yamal’s Poor Form
Barcelona manager Hansi Flick has addressed mounting concerns regarding Lamine Yamal’s recent form and on-pitch demeanour following a demanding summer schedule.
The German tactician moved to reassure supporters after the 19-year-old winger noticeably lacked his trademark smile during the opening weeks of the 2026/27 La Liga campaign.
Yamal recently returned to the Barcelona starting lineup following a brief three-week holiday.
His truncated break followed an intense summer where he represented Spain at the 2026 FIFA World Cup immediately after recovering from a significant injury earlier in the year.
Flick acknowledged that Yamal struggled to find his rhythm during Barcelona’s season-opening fixtures.
“I know everyone is worried about how is Lamine, how he is doing,” Flick told reporters on Sunday.
“And of course, look at his situation; he played a World Cup after a huge injury. Now he’s coming back after three weeks holiday, and also the first game maybe was not his best game.”
Despite the slow start, Flick expressed satisfaction with Yamal’s tactical discipline and overall work rate.
The teenager completed the full 90 minutes during Barcelona’s recent 2-0 league victory over Athletic Club on August 27, 2026.
Flick highlighted that extended time on the pitch against the Basque outfit was a crucial step in rebuilding the winger’s match fitness.
“He played 90 minutes against Bilbao, and for him at the moment, it’s also good to have 90 minutes on the pitch,” Flick explained.
The Barcelona manager also dismissed worries surrounding the player’s apparent lack of joy on the pitch.
Flick insisted that Yamal’s mood remains positive behind the scenes at the Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper.
“Of course, it’s always good when the players are smiling, but it’s not every day the same day,” Flick stated. “I’m also not smiling every day, it’s like that.”
Flick confirmed he has already witnessed a return to peak form during recent closed-door training sessions.
“We saw him in some situations really on this top level,” Flick concluded. “And now, you couldn’t see this in the training session today, but I saw it and it was excellent.”
Barcelona forward, Lamine Yamal, has admitted that Victor Osimhen’s disallowed goal could have made their Champions League clash with Galatasaray more difficult.
Osimhen thought he had made it 2-0 to the Turkish champions in the first half.
However, his powerful header was chalked off following a VAR review.
Barca then fought back and overpowered Galatasaray, scoring four goals to take all three points.
But Yamal has claimed that if Yellow and Red had gone two goals up, their job would have been harder than it became.
“If Galatasaray’s second goal hadn’t been disallowed, our job in Istanbul would have been very tough,” Yamal said per Le Marca Sports.
Cristiano Ronaldo scored as Al-Nassr won an AFC Champions League match which was delayed by an hour because of a missile alert.
Ronaldo scored Al-Nassr’s second goal as the Saudi Pro League champions beat Uzbekistan’s Neftchi Fergana 3-1 on Monday.
Kick-off was delayed after Saudi Arabia’s Civil Defence issued a safety warning just 15 minutes before the scheduled start time in Riyadh, the capital city which has been the target of missiles fired from Yemen-based Houthis.
Following attacks on Riyadh’s airport, explosions were heard in the capital on Monday night. The Saudi-led military coalition said a ballistic missile had been intercepted and destroyed.
Future sporting events could be affected by the regional conflict, including Formula 1 races in Qatar and Abu Dhabi.
Once Al-Nassr were able to get under way, Ange Postecoglou’s team went ahead through Angelo in the 33rd minute and Ronaldo doubled their lead before half-time.
Uzbekistan champions Neftchi pulled a goal back, but they were reduced to 10 men after 65 minutes and an own goal 13 minutes later sealed a first Group B victory for the hosts.
Nigeria international Frank Onyeka made a good account of himself as Coventry City defeated Newcastle United 4-1 in Monday night’s Premier League fixture.
Despite seeing just 12 minutes of action, Onyeka came in and impressed as Coventry made it back-to-back win in the English topflight this season.
It was Onyeka’s fifth appearance in the Premier League this season for newly promoted Coventry.
His Nigerian teammate Taiwo Awoniyi was not in action for Frank Lampard’s side due to suspension.
Early goals at the start of each half from Jack Rudoni and Sidiki Cherif put Coventry City in course for their first brilliant Premier League win at the CBS Arena.
Although the Magpies pulled one back 20 minutes from time, super subs Ellis Simms and Stephen Mfuni scored in the 81st and 86th minutes to secure a huge three points for the Sky Blues.
The win took Coventry up to 14th place on six points while Newcastle, on eight points, are in 11th in the league table.
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