Lamine Yamal has withdrawn from Spanish international duty.placeholder image
Lamine Yamal has withdrawn from Spanish international duty. | Middle East Images/AFP via Getty
FC Barcelona face Chelsea in the Champions League later this month with one defender already thinking about the clash.
Chelsea defender Marc Cucurella has joked that his planned ‘homework’ ahead of the meeting with FC Barcelona later this month has been scuppered by the decision of Lamine Yamal to withdraw from the Spain national squad this week.
Enzo Maresca’s side travel to Burnley on the weekend after the international break and then host FC Barcelona at Stamford Bridge in a blockbuster clash under the lights on November 25. The two sides sit level on points in the Champions League table, both with two wins, a draw and a loss in the competition.
The two last met in the competition during the 2017/18 season with Barcelona coming out 4-1 winners on aggregate across two legs. The teams drew 1-1 at Stamford Bridge during that campaign.
Lamine Yamal frustrates Spain with international withdrawal
The teams have changed a lot since then and one danger man for Barcelona is 18-year-old Yamal. The Spain international had been due to represent his nation, alongside Cucurella, in the World Cup qualifier against Georgia and Turkey this week.
However, in an unexpected decision, he has pulled out of international duty. The Spanish FA expressed ‘surprise and concern’ at the decision after the forward underwent a groin procedure it did not know about.
Spain manager Luis de la Fuente said: "I had never experienced a situation like that. I don't think it's very normal. You don't know, you haven't heard anything, you don't know any details, and then they tell you about health issues. You're left surprised."
Yamal was fit enough to play for Barcelona on Sunday, scoring in the 4-2 win over Celta Vigo before being taken off in injury time. It had been reported that the winger underwent an ‘invasive radiofrequency procedure’ earlier that morning to treat discomfort and a 7-10 day rest period was indicated.
That means that Yamal should be fit enough to face Chelsea. Playing on the right wing, it’s likely that Yamal will go up against Spain colleague Cucurella at Stamford Bridge.
Marc Cucurella preparing to take on Yamal with Chelsea
When speaking to the media this week, Cucurella was asked about taking on the highly rated teenager. He replied: "I think Lamine left the Spanish national team camp because I told him how I'm going to start my homework here during the training sessions."
The defender added: "Ultimately, it's a complicated issue. I have teammates at Chelsea with groin problems, and it's difficult. It will be a significant loss. We would have liked him to be here with us to celebrate qualifying for the World Cup, but the important thing is that he recovers well."
There are few better full backs in the world than Cucurella but the Chelsea star had previously admitted that Yamal is currently the ‘hardest winger to stop’ in football. He said: “We’ll have to play in the Champions League. It’ll be a beautiful and special match, and I hope it’s a tough one for them. We’re playing at home, and that’s always a plus.
“I can’t injure him either, because otherwise I won’t be able to come back to the national team! He’s the hardest winger to stop. He’s a very skillful player; you never know what he’s going to do to you. It’ll be a tough match, but I’ll try to make things as difficult as possible for him.”
In other news, Tottenham and Chelsea face transfer setback in pursuit of 'top international' striker.
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