Lamine Yamal is 'back on the grind' at Barcelona as star winger returns to training in much-needed boost after Ferran Torres and Dani Olmo injuries

Barcelona has received a much-needed lift with the return of the 18-year-old winger to training this week. Yamal made an early comeback after being sidelined for a couple of weeks, arriving just in time for the club's congested fixture list. The club confirmed the news with a video posted on their official social media. However, this positive development is tempered by new injuries to key players Torres and Olmo, who suffered injury setbacks during the recent World Cup qualifiers with Spain.

Coach Flick has previously voiced his deep frustration with the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF), criticising their handling of the players' fitness. The cases of Yamal and Olmo are similar: both players reported discomfort upon joining the Spain camp for the qualifiers but were reportedly still pushed to train.

Yamal’s return to training marks a key step in Barcelona’s preparation. The plan is to gradually integrate him, starting with Wednesday sessions, and potentially featuring as a substitute against Girona this weekend. If all goes well, he could start in the Champions League clash against Olympiacos, setting him up to be fully available for the Bernabeu clash. This news is especially reassuring considering Barca's growing injury concerns, with many key players sidelined in recent weeks.

Torres has been ruled out of Spain’s match against Bulgaria with a muscle overload, while Olmo’s calf injury will likely keep him out for three to four weeks, almost certainly ruling him out of the Clasico. These setbacks pile pressure on the Barca coach to manage rotation and attacking options. Torres’ sharp form had been a highlight for Barcelona, while Olmo’s creativity and movement are missed. The team must adapt quickly to maintain attacking consistency ahead of the crucial fixtures.

With Yamal back in training, Blaugrana now focus on managing their squad across a congested schedule: Girona in La Liga on October 18, Olympiacos in the Champions League on October 21, and finally El Clasico against Madrid on October 26. Flick must carefully navigate player fitness, tactical rotations and form recovery to ensure his team is competitive. Yamal’s reintegration offers a key attacking spark, providing optimism amid a challenging period and potentially tipping the scales in the Bernabeu showdown.