Barcelona has received a timely double injury boost ahead of the Catalan derby against Espanyol, with two key attackers back in contention as 2026 begins. The league leaders will look to build on that momentum at the RCDE Stadium, where a derby win would strengthen their hold on top spot. With the title race heating up and squad availability improving, Barcelona know this trip is as much about handling the intensity as it is about the result.
Barcelona Get the News They Wanted Before Espanyol Clash
Hansi Flick spoke to the media ahead of the Catalan derby and confirmed that they have two players back from injury. Dani Olmo and Lamine Yamal are back in training and will be available for their match on Jan. 3rd, 2026.
The German manager has revealed that Olmo is confident of doing well on the pitch, while Yamal has also joined the group training and said:
“Both are ready. Dani is back, he’s not afraid of one-on-ones. He has taken an important step forward. And Lamine is also back.”
However, he is unsure if Ronald Araujo will be back for the team. The manager is ready to give him more time to recover and said:
“It’s up to him. He’s not 100% physically, but he’s fine. He has to decide how fast he wants to go. For me, it’s clear. What I see and feel is that the team’s support is fantastic. He’s taken the time he needed. He’s on the right track.”
However, the main focus of the derby is set to be Joan Garcia, who left Espanyol to join Barcelona in the summer. He is returning to the RCDE Stadium for the first time since the surprise transfer across town, but Flick is not thinking about it. He said:
“I don’t see any difference compared to recent weeks. He is confident and believes in his strengths and qualities, which is what he wants to show tomorrow. Joan has performed at a high level during this last stretch here and has shown that signing him was the right decision. He is demonstrating his enormous quality and is our number one goalkeeper. I’m not worried at all.”
The Catalan giants activated the $28.8 million release clause in the summer, and Espanyol had no power to stop the move as the goalkeeper was interested in the move.
Lamine Yamal Has Been Dealing With Injury Issues This Season
Yamal has missed five matches for the Catalan giants this season due to groin issues. He missed four matches in September with a groin injury, and then missed another game in October for the same issue.
The club confirmed that he has been dealing with Pubalgia and was out for 12 days in November, but did not miss any games.
