So far this season, Barcelona forward Lamine Yamal has been a constant presence on the field, appearing in every match and accumulating 706 minutes.
His goals and assists have made headlines, but there is an underlying concern about his growing workload and with a series of games stacking up, it might be time for the coaching staff to think about managing his minutes more carefully to protect him from burnout or injury.
In matches against Villarreal and Getafe, Yamal found himself on the receiving end of multiple fouls. Opponents resorted to a more aggressive style of play in an attempt to stop him, and unfortunately, the referees did not always punish these fouls as they should have.
As a result, hard tackles on Yamal became a frequent occurrence. Against Getafe, he was seen limping after a knock to his ankle, although the good news is that he is not injured.
If the coaching staff decide, he will be fit and available for the upcoming match against Osasuna. However, with the Champions League returning to Montjuic soon, it would make sense for Hansi Flick to consider resting Yamal for the Osasuna match.
Others have rested, Yamal has not
The accumulation of matches is beginning to show, and it could be risky to overwork such a talented young player.
Flick has shown he is aware of the need to manage his squad carefully, as seen when Pau Cubarsí and Alejandro Balde were rested against Villarreal, and Pedri was benched for the Getafe game. However, when it comes to the forward line, rotations have been scarce.
Yamal has played nearly every minute in La Liga this season, missing only four minutes in the opening match against Valencia. In total, he has racked up 626 minutes, scoring three goals and providing five assists, making him one of the standout performers in the league.
His attacking partners, Robert Lewandowski and Raphinha have also been regular starters, with Lewandowski being substituted four times and missing a combined hour of game time.
Before the match against Getafe, Flick mentioned that Yamal did not require rest, pointing out that the young winger knows how to manage his energy levels to stay fresh and perform at his best.
Against Monaco, where Barcelona were a man down for most of the match, Flick opted to keep Yamal on the field until the 80th minute before substituting him.
With the Osasuna game looming, it could be the right time for Flick to rest his top performer, or the next match against Young Boys could present an opportunity too.
