Flick's Barcelona learn to win without star man Lamine Yamal

With a brace from an outstanding Ferran Torres and another goal from Dani Olmo, Barcelona overcame Getafe's tough challenge 3-0 to keep pace with Real Madrid in La Liga. It was a resounding, comfortable and convincing victory that came without Lamine Yamal on the pitch.

The Catalan giants' number 10, still recovering from the physical problems he suffered during the last international break, watched from the stands as his team finally seemed to have learned how to win without their young star in the domestic league. 

To date, Lamine has been absent from two league matches, both at home. Barca took all three points in both games (this time against Getafe on matchday 5 and against Valencia on matchday 4, which ended in a crushing 6-0 victory), something that had not happened at all last season without Barca's young star on the pitch.

In the 2024-25 league season, Barca not only failed to win the matches in which the number 10 was absent, but also lost most of them. Lamine Yamal missed three matches in the last league season, with the Catalan side picking up just one point out of a possible nine.

The three matches took place during the first half of the season, in which Barca, after a brilliant start, went through a slump in November and December. On matchday 13, Lamine was not at Anoeta for his team's 1-0 defeat to Real Sociedad. Nor did he play on matchday 14, which Barça ended with a 2-2 draw at Balaídos against Celta.

Finally, the star also watched from the sidelines the matchday 18 defeat against Atletico Madrid by 1-2. Since that day, Lamine Yamal had been present in all of the 'Cules' league matches until a couple of weeks ago, and now, almost a year later, it seems that the Catalans have already assimilated what it is to win without him.

The victories against Getafe and Valencia, along with the 1-2 win at Newcastle in their Champions League debut, prove this. Hansi Flick's side is a team without any standout players, with 15-16 starters who, as a whole, are now capable of compensating for the absence of (for many) the best player in the world, who today, far from home, could be enjoying one of his greatest nights at the Ballon d'Or ceremony.

Matches without Lamine Yamal in La Liga with Hansi Flick as coach:

- Matchday 13 (2024-25): Real Sociedad 1-0 Barcelona
- Matchday 14 (2024-25): Celta Vigo 2-2 Barcelona
- Matchday 18 (2024-25): Barcelona 1-2 Atletico Madrid
- Matchday 4 (2025-26): Barcelona 6-0 Valencia
- Matchday 5 (2025-26): Barcelona 3-0 Getafe