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Lamine Yamal will reportedly miss Barcelona’s Champions League opener at Newcastle United after missing training again on Tuesday.
Yamal did not feature on Sunday as Barca put Valencia to the sword with an emphatic 6-0 win, in which Fermin Lopez, Raphinha and Robert Lewandowski all scored doubles.
The 18-year-old is dealing with back problems, with his injury status leading to a row between Barca and the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF).
Yamal is said to have reported for international duty with the injury and did not train for Spain before featuring in World Cup qualifying wins over Bulgaria and Turkey. The teenager is reported to have taken painkillers before taking part in those games.
And Marca reports Yamal is not expected to be involved as Barca travel to St James’ Park for the first game of their league phase campaign on Thursday, the forward limited to work in the club’s gym as he missed out on Tuesday’s training session.
While Barca will still be favourites against Newcastle without Yamal, his absence represents a major blow to the Blaugrana as they aim to overcome a tricky opening test amid what is sure to be a raucous atmosphere on Tyneside.
Yamal already has two goals and two assists in LaLiga for Barca this season. He had 18 goals and 21 assists in all competitions last season, finding the net five times in the Champions League as Barca reached the semi-finals before losing a classic tie to Inter Milan.
