Barcelona winger Lamine Yamal, who missed Spain’s World Cup qualifier this month with a groin injury, is fit for the club’s La Liga 2025/26 match against Athletic Bilbao at Camp Nou on Saturday, manager Hansi Flick told reporters.
Yamal, who has been sidelined three times since September with groin problems, is set to return to Barca after two-and-a-half years, with the club reopening the partially renovated Camp Nou at a reduced capacity.
«He has worked very hard these two weeks and I am very happy with what I see,» Flick said on Friday about 18-year-old Yamal, who was released from the Spanish squad on November 11.
Raphinha, who has been out since September with a hamstring injury, will also return but fellow striker Marcus Rashford is doubtful for Saturday after developing a fever, Flick added.
Barcelona are happy to return to Camp Nou for the first time since May 2023, the German coach said.
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The Catalans have played their home games at the Olympic Stadium for the past two seasons, where Flick led them to the league title in his debut season in 2024/25.
The team held an open training session at Camp Nou on November 7.
“I think we prefer to play at Camp Nou… when we were at training and I went up the stairs and reached the pitch, it was an incredible feeling,” Flick said.
«It can give us a very big boost in the match because it is very close and the fans… know exactly when the team needs this boost,» he added.
Second-placed Barca are three points behind Real Madrid in the Spanish top flight and are eleventh in the Champions League, where they visit Chelsea on Tuesday.
«Game-by-game, this is what we want to do. I know it’s a long, long way until the end of May… we never have any doubts about what we want to do, how we want to play and achieve our goals,» Flick said.
«Last season was the same… we have to look at ourselves and give our best performance in every match,» he added.
Published on November 21, 2025
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