Welcome to Inside Barcelona, our weekly series to follow La Liga’s defending champions throughout their 2025-26 season.
Every edition will bring you our latest information and analysis on the biggest talking points, cutting through the noisy world of all things Barca with reporting you can trust.
This week’s column looks at the injury crisis that has hit Hansi Flick’s side with terrible timing, what to expect next in the Camp Nou reconstruction drama and the latest reminder of Lamine Yamal’s brilliance.
What’s the biggest talking point at Barcelona right now?
The injuries. Four senior players were ruled out with significant physical setbacks last week.
First, Fermin Lopez suffered a groin injury, with the club saying on Tuesday that he will likely be ruled out for three weeks. Then came the biggest blow with Gavi’s torn meniscus. The 21-year-old is set to be out for five months after undergoing surgery on a problem that was initially diagnosed as being less severe.
Then, in Thursday’s 3-1 victory at Real Oviedo, Barca lost two more players, as Raphinha was withdrawn with a hamstring injury before Joan Garcia was hurt making a last-minute save. The goalkeeper suffered a tear to his meniscus, but thankfully, the damage was less severe than Gavi’s injury. Garcia’s recovery is expected to take between four and six weeks.
Wojciech Szczesny will fill in for the injured Joan Garcia (Jose Breton/Pics Action/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
All of this came with particularly bad timing. Barcelona play Paris Saint-Germain at home in the Champions League on Wednesday. In four weeks, they travel to Real Madrid for El Clasico (October 26). Adding to their worries are the recent problems that Alejandro Balde and Yamal have suffered, with Yamal returning on Sunday and Balde expected to come back against PSG.
Barca sources — speaking anonymously, like all those cited here, as they did not have permission to comment publicly — put this spate of injuries down to a combination of bad luck and a hectic schedule (by Saturday, Barca will have played seven matches in 21 days). They also believe it proves a point for Flick, who resisted the idea of letting any other players leave this summer, despite the noise around Lopez and Marc Casado.
Speaking at his pre-match press conference on Saturday, the German manager said: “It’s not normal, but some injuries just happen. We are having a look to see what we can do better. We will analyse everything and every training and we’ll see what’s happening and if we have to adapt.”
What did we learn from Sunday’s game?
We did not exactly learn that Yamal is amazing, but he certainly reminded us what he’s capable of — and with brilliant timing. The 18-year-old returned to action after a groin injury sustained on Spain duty this month, and he unlocked the three points for Barca in Sunday’s 2-1 home win against Real Sociedad.
It was an instant impact. He came off the bench in the 57th minute and 30 seconds later, received the ball on the right wing. He left Real Sociedad left-back Sergio Gomez behind and set up Robert Lewandowski for the winner with a peach of a cross.
Once again, Yamal was unplayable, and his contribution could not have come at a better time. He inspired a win that puts Barcelona a point clear at the top of La Liga, after Real Madrid’s defeat against city rivals Atletico Madrid. Real Sociedad provided a test but PSG on Wednesday will be tougher still. It would be a surprise if Yamal does not start.
Sunday’s win also reaffirmed that Pedri, who put on another midfield masterclass, is in the form of his life, and that Marcus Rashford is still progressing very positively. He grabbed another assist and now has six goal involvements (two goals, four assists) in his past five Barca games.
“We played against a great team, I enjoy how Real Sociedad play,” said Flick in his post-match press conference.
“It was hard in the end but a deserved win. We had less than 68 hours from our last game and I am really proud about how my players performed. Everyone on the pitch did their best.”
Are Barca ready for PSG?
They look to be. Before the international break, there was quite a different mood as Flick criticised the attitude of his players following a 1-1 draw at Rayo Vallecano on August 31. They’ve since recorded five straight wins, and judging by his words on Sunday, Flick can see a difference.
Yes, they do have multiple injuries (as do PSG) but Yamal returning to action is a huge boost, while Pedri and Frenkie de Jong both look on song. With those three at the peak of their powers, Barcelona will feel ready for any team in the world.
After getting some minutes on Sunday, Yamal can be expected to start, but Flick will have other big decisions to make. Who is going to play up front, Lewandowski or Ferran Torres?
Pau Cubarsi’s partner at the back will be another one to keep an eye on. Ronald Araujo might look like the favourite, but Eric Garcia has begun the season in great form. Rashford looks set to start from the left of the attack.
What might fans have missed last week? And what should we look out for this week?
Beyond the perfect outcome on the pitch, this has been another week of Camp Nou drama.
Barca were again unable to return to their stadium, which they have been pushing for intensely. On Tuesday, they held a media event where vice-president Elena Fort declared it “the safest ground in Spain”. Barcelona’s city council does not see it the same way. At a press conference of their own, officials explained why the venue still does not meet safety standards.
Sunday’s match against Real Sociedad was played at the Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys on Montjuic, where Barca played the previous two seasons. This is where the PSG match will take place, too.
Barcelona’s next home game in La Liga is against Girona on October 18. No venue has been confirmed. Club sources say Barca will stay at Montjuic until they are given the green light to return to the Camp Nou, which they want to do as soon as possible.
The capacity of the Estadi Olimpic, at more than 50,000, makes it the much-preferred option over the 6,000-capacity Estadi Johan Cruyff, where Barca have already played two home games in La Liga this term.
Barca fans should also have Friday noted down as another important day. Spain manager Luis de la Fuente will announce his squad for the next international break. Many at Barcelona hope De la Fuente will not call Yamal up for the two home games against Georgia and Bulgaria, so he can have a rest.
(Top photo: Javier Borrego/Europa Press via Getty Images)
