Lamine Yamal Returns to Support Barça

Barcelona faces the challenge of regaining the positive momentum they had at the start of the season this Saturday at Montjuic. Under the guidance of Hansi Flick, they meet Las Palmas after two setbacks against Real Sociedad and Celta in La Liga, with the opportunity to put pressure on a Real Madrid side that is also not at its best. The significant news is the return of Lamine Yamal, who has recovered from his ankle issues and could be part of the squad if the German coach deems it appropriate.

"I only think about what is best to win tomorrow; we don't care what happens on Tuesday, Saturday, or in Dortmund. We are focused on tomorrow's match. We want the intensity and style of football we had against Brest. We are in a good situation, and I hope the team is well prepared," Flick stated in the pre-match press conference against the Gran Canaria team. The German coach did not want to discuss the club's 125th-anniversary celebration or focus on Lamine Yamal's return, preferring to talk about an important match for Barça.

The two consecutive setbacks may have burst the bubble that had inflated during the early months of the competition. The match against Real Sociedad, with zero shots on target, and the defensive fragility shown against Celta in Balaídos have taken a toll on a team that desperately needs to regain positive feelings. This is what Barça will seek in a match marked by a celebration held in grand style this Friday at the Gran Teatre del Liceu. This festivity will continue on the pitch at Lluis Companys, where Barça could end Saturday seven points ahead of their eternal rival, putting pressure on the Whites, who will play the next day against Getafe at the Santiago Bernabéu.

The goal for Barça is to finally have Lamine Yamal available, now recovered from his ankle problems, although his presence in the starting eleven is not guaranteed. "He is ready to play, but I don't know if he will start," Flick assured on Friday. Ferran Torres will also be available, giving Flick more options in attack. Despite this, the German will maintain the group that defeated Brest, with the novelty of Gavi in the double pivot instead of the suspended Marc Casadó and the possibility of Balde returning to the left-back position instead of Gerard Martín, who started in recent matches.

Barça's mission is to regain their form and face a team that concedes too much to the opponent. Las Palmas is the third team to have conceded the most goals so far in the competition and arrives in the Catalan capital after conceding three goals at home to Mallorca. It is the ideal opponent in this sense, but Diego Martínez has already warned in the pre-match that they travel to Barcelona with the aim of learning from these types of mistakes. "The first thing we must be clear about is that we must know how to resist and suffer. We have to play a perfect match and ensure they don't have their day. We will be subjected to great psychological, tactical, physical, and rhythm demands; it is an opportunity for growth for everyone," he stated.

This opportunity comes to Las Palmas with the need to win to climb out of the relegation zone. Diego Martínez's team flirts with the relegation spots after achieving only three victories in fourteen rounds, a very poor record that could have its turning point in Barcelona. For this, the Vigo coach will have all his players available except for Álex Muñoz, Pejiño, and Sinkgraven. These absences will not affect a lineup where the control will once again be in the hands of Kirian and Moleiro, and where Sandro Ramírez will lead the attack against the club where he was trained.

Probable Line-ups

Barcelona: Peña, Koundé, Cubarsí, Iñigo Martínez, Balde, Pedri, Gavi, Raphinha, Fermín, Dani Olmo, and Lewandowski.

Las Palmas: Cillessen, Viti, Suárez, McKenna, Muñóz, Essugo, Kirian, Moleiro, Fuster, Sandro, and Silva.

Referee: Adrián Cordero Vega (Cantabrian Committee).

Stadium and Time: Lluis Companys 14:00 / Movistar LaLiga.