Barcelona have seen their unbeaten start to the 2025/26 season disrupted by a 2-1 Champions League home defeat to PSG.
Hansi Flick’s side are leading the way in La Liga, with 19 points gained from seven games played, and a narrow one-point edge on El Clasico rivals Real Madrid.
However, they were undone late on against the defending champions as Goncalo Ramos came off the bench to snatch victory for Luis Enrique back in Catalonia.
PSG’s injury crisis forced Luis Enrique’s hand in terms of his selection with Barcelona missing Raphinha, Gavi and Joan Garcia.
Lamine Yamal sparkled on his return to the starting lineup, and he will remain in place for the weekend La Liga trip to Sevilla, on October 5.
The 18-year-old has been carefully eased back into action in recent weeks after suffering a groin injury on international duty with Spain in September.
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Lamine Yamal completed 70+ minutes as Luis de la Fuente’s team stormed to superb successive 3-0 and 6-0 wins in Bulgaria and Turkey at the start of their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification campaign.
Hansi Flick was left furious as the teenager returned to club duty injured, with four games missed, and the former Bayern Munich boss criticised the conduct of Spain’s medical team.
Flick’s rant was rejected by the national team, with sporting director Deco looking to smooth the row, ahead of October’s games.
“There’s no tension. We don’t want to create controversy where there isn’t any. The Spain national team is important for Barca and Barca is important for the national team,” as per Mundo Deportivo.
“There’s no controversy with the Federation. Things that needed to be discussed have been. I spoke with Karanka and we’ll improve planning and communication. Once a player is in the national team, the coach decides.”
A separate reports from Catalan outlet Aras claimed Deco’s talks with the Federation included a request for Lamine Yamal not to be called up – or only played in one game – but that was rejected.
De la Fuente’s side have made a giant step forward in their push for World Cup qualification ahead of home games against Georgia and Bulgaria on October 11 and 14.
Ahead of the squad announcement on October 3, Lamine Yamal is certain to be included, but De la Fuente could look to ease his game load in the weeks ahead.
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