Lamine Yamal has suffered an injury and will be out for 2 to 3 weeks. This is concerning for Barcelona, not just because they are losing an important player, but also because the team is gradually falling into a state of “Laminedependencia.”
In the past, Barcelona faced the “Messidependencia” syndrome, a reliance on Messi, and now, the Catalan club is worried about becoming dependent on 17-year-old Lamine Yamal. Coach Hansi Flick had stated upon his arrival that his philosophy was not based on any individual player, but in the end, Barcelona could not escape the influence of Yamal.
Both of Barcelona’s defeats in La Liga this season occurred when Yamal did not start. In the loss to Osasuna in round 8, Yamal entered the game in the 59th minute with Barcelona already trailing 4-1, and despite his best efforts, he could only score a consolation goal. In the recent match against Sociedad, Yamal was absent due to an ankle injury, and Barcelona’s attack struggled, failing to create any clear chances.
The major issue is that Hansi Flick has yet to find an effective solution when Yamal is missing. In the Osasuna match, he experimented with a new attacking line-up of Lewandowski, Ferran Torres, and Pau Victor, but the experiment failed. Flick had to bring Yamal and Raphinha on in the second half for the attack to regain its rhythm. In the match against Sociedad, Flick tried Fermin Lopez to replace Yamal on the right wing, but Fermin’s tendency to cut inside and link up with the midfield meant he didn’t provide the same width or threat as Yamal. Moreover, he didn’t have the same chemistry with right-back Jules Kounde.
Without Yamal, Barcelona’s attack lacks dynamism. Flick has tried several attacking options, including Dani Olmo, Ansu Fati, Gavi, and Pau Victor, but none have made a significant difference. During the final 30 minutes of the Sociedad match, despite having a more attacking line-up, Barcelona failed to create any clear opportunities, relying only on speculative shots from outside the box.
Lamine Yamal doesn’t just create moments of brilliance; his presence also draws defenders, opening up space for his teammates. As Marc Casado put it, “Having an exceptional player like Lamine always makes us feel more confident, and makes the opposition more nervous.”
This season, Lewandowski is Barcelona’s top scorer with 19 goals across all competitions, and Raphinha is their best assister with 10 assists. However, Yamal (6 goals, 8 assists) has the most significant impact. When Yamal is on the field, magic can happen at any moment for Barcelona, but when he is absent, the team becomes ordinary. This is why “Laminedependencia” will be a major issue for Barcelona this season.