Hansi Flick faces attacking dilemma as injuries ravage Barcelona squad

Ansu Fati is the latest casualty, suffering a hamstring injury that will sideline him for four weeks, confirmed by the club. This setback has intensified Flick's concerns with multiple other players carrying knocks or recovering from recent injuries.

The injuries to young talent Lamine Yamal and veteran striker Robert Lewandowski further complicate Barcelona's line-up.

Lamine, sidelined by an ankle injury picked up in the Champions League against Red Star Belgrade, missed Barcelona's recent league match against Real Sociedad. His absence has now cost him a place in Spain's national squad, with medical reports suggesting a two-to-three-week recovery period.

If he does return for the Celta match, it will mark just two weeks since his injury, making his involvement a game-time decision. "Lamine's presence is crucial," Flick commented, reflecting on the young winger's impact on the team's recent performances.

Lewandowski's recovery timeline offers slightly more optimism. The Polish international sustained a back injury in the same match against Real Sociedad, which also ruled him out of his national duty.

Fortunately, his injury is estimated to require just ten days of recovery, raising hopes he may be fit to face Celta. Flick admitted that Lewandowski's experience and goal-scoring threat would be invaluable, particularly with other forwards unavailable.

Ferran Torres, another forward battling fitness concerns, has been sidelined since early October following an injury against Alaves. Although Torres has resumed light training, the Valencia-born attacker may struggle to be match-fit for Saturday.

The only fully fit attackers available to Flick are Raphinha and Pau Victor. However, Raphinha's participation is slightly impacted by his recent international duty with Brazil, which leaves him with limited recovery time before Saturday's game.

With a depleted forward line, Flick's tactical choices against Celta may rely on defensive stability or creative midfield solutions.

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