Barcelona’s offense takes a hit as top scorers sidelined before critical matches

Barcelona is on red alert. After confirming the injuries of Lamine Yamal and Robert Lewandowski, the big issue will be if this Catalan team can maintain its rhythm for the seasons without two of its key offensive game players. Absences which have repercussions not only for the club but also for the Spanish and Polish national sides, who rely on these forwards in the next rounds of the UEFA Nations League .

Follow Playing for 90 on X (Twitter).

The Case of Lamine Yamal

Now, an injury to Yamal has turned on the first warning light for Barcelona. Only 17, the young star had been improving game after game, showing skill and precision with the leather. But a hit during the Champions League match against Red Star broke that trend. The diagnosis? An ankle injury that will keep the forward off the field for about three weeks.

Immediately, the impact will be felt in the Spanish national team. The Spanish coach already knows that Yamal will be missing in those crucial matches in the Nations League against Denmark and Switzerland. Slim is the hope, however, of the Barça fans in seeing their young star back to the field against Celta Vigo on November 23. Without Yamal, Barcelona loses a player who, despite being so young, has already been standing out with numbers: six goals and eight assists this season-pretty expressive for a rookie.

Pressure Piles on Robert Lewandowski and Poland

While Yamal's absence is a blow, Lewandowski's is a strategic one. With immense experience and consistent scoring, the Polish striker has been one of Barcelona's offensive pillars for this season. He has 19 goals to his name and is important to the club.

Actually, the back injury, that had been finally diagnosed after the game against Real Sociedad, became the reason for the immediate cut of Lewandowski from the Polish squad. Poland lost its main striker and on-field leader before important games against Portugal and Scotland in the Nations League. Barcelona will probably be deprived of its top scorer for about 10 days, that may affect the course of their preparation in view of such significant games.

Barcelona Without Its Stars: What Does It Mean?

Without Yamal and Lewandowski, the game for Barcelona changes quite a bit. Along with Raphinha, they have made an attacking trio responsible for placing Barça at the top of LaLiga with 33 points. This trio has always driven Barcelona through their promising season start, but now coach Xavi Hernández will be obliged to reshuffle the cards in search of other options which will keep the team competitive.

Yamal brought in the pace and the courage to dribble, which is rarely brought by young players. With Lewandowski inside the box, the pinpoint finishing has made him the first choice of that team, not to mention his good positions and accurate passes. That combination turned Barcelona's front line into a goal-scoring machine.

Without these players, Barcelona will be forced to look to the bench for new momentum. The one player who could step up is Ferran Torres, providing versatility in his abilities to play centrally and on the wings, though he has not completely broken through as of yet.

Barcelona's Path in the Coming Weeks

For Barcelona, these two weeks away due to FIFA might be exactly the opportunity to refashion. Coaching will get the opportunity to work on a new model of attack, to test various lineup options in order to fill in temporarily for Yamal and Lewandowski. Ferran Torres, Ansu Fati, even Raphinha, will have the opportunity to show that they can handle the load of the team's offense.

This is also a reminder that a prepared roster is important. Competitions and physical strain pile up, and injuries are an unfortunate but inevitable reality. If Barcelona is to win both LaLiga and the Champions League, then they must show them that their strength does not lie in star players, but their collective power may be able to keep a winning pace.