Why Isn't Lamine Yamal Playing Tonight for Barcelona vs Deportivo Alaves?

FC Barcelona won the 2025-26 La Liga title over the weekend after beating Real Madrid 2-0 in El Clásico at Camp Nou.

Goals from Marcus Rashford and Ferran Torres helped Hansi Flick's side secure the championship with three matches still left in the season.

Barcelona now travel to face Deportivo Alavés on May 13 as the newly crowned champions look to finish the campaign strongly. Flick has continued to speak about reaching the 100-point mark, even with the title already secured.

However Barcelona will once again be without Lamine Yamal for Wednesday's trip to Alavés, as the teenager remains sidelined after missing the title-clinching El Clásico win over Real Madrid.

Why is Lamine Yamal not Playing Tonight?

Lamine Yamal is not playing against Alavés since he is still recovering from a hamstring injury suffered during Barcelona's 1-0 win over Celta Vigo on April 22.

The 18-year-old scored the winning penalty in that match before being substituted due to discomfort.

Barcelona later confirmed that Yamal had suffered an injury to the biceps femoris muscle in his left leg. The club announced that he would miss the remainder of the La Liga season while following a conservative recovery plan.

As per updated reports, Yamal remains unavailable and was not included in Barcelona's squad for the trip to Mendizorrotza.

Barça Blaugranes and other Spanish reports also confirmed that the winger is continuing his recovery program and will not return before the end of the domestic campaign.

The latest updates around the Spain national team remain positive, though. Spain manager Luis de la Fuente recently said he expects Yamal to recover in time for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, even if he may not be rushed back immediately for the opening match.

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This story was originally published May 13, 2026 at 12:30 PM.