Barcelona will be without Lamine Yamal for their upcoming Champions League match against Brest as he continues to recover from an ankle injury. Meanwhile, Brighton, after a recent win, remains focused on overcoming a key challenge to secure Champions League qualification. Despite their recent struggles on the road, Brighton has shown improvement under manager Fabian Hurzeler and will need to maintain their form to compete with the best in the league.
Yamal to Miss Barcelona’s Champions League Clash vs Brest
Barcelona will be without Lamine Yamal once again for their upcoming Champions League match against Brest on Tuesday.
Yamal was sidelined for “two to three weeks” at the start of the international break due to an ankle sprain and remains unavailable for return.
RAC1 reports that Yamal underwent additional tests at the club on Sunday, leading to the decision to keep him out of the game.
Yamal is still experiencing pain in his right ankle, so Hansi Flick’s team will have to manage without the talented teenager once again.
Barca have faced difficulties without Yamal this season, suffering defeats to Osasuna and Real Sociedad, along with a draw against Celta Vigo in La Liga.
Flick will be hoping his team can return to winning form against Brest. The Ligue 1 side sit 12th in the French league but remain unbeaten in their four Champions League games so far.
Brest have defeated Sparta Prague, RB Salzburg, and Sturm Graz, while also securing a draw against Bayer Leverkusen.
Brighton Must Overcome One Challenge to Reach the UCL
Fabian Hurzeler has Brighton dreaming of Champions League football following another impressive victory, but he knows there’s one major obstacle standing in his way.
Brighton triumphed 2-1 over Bournemouth on Saturday, thanks to a standout performance from Joao Pedro, despite being reduced to 10 men after Carlos Baleba’s red card in a tense final 30 minutes.
However, it was only Brighton’s fifth away win in 23 matches and just their fourth in 16 attempts this year.
In fact, the Seagulls haven’t won consecutive away league games since September 2023, a surprising streak for a team capable of competing with the best in the division.
Under Hurzeler this season, there’s been some progress in that area; three wins from six matches is a much better record, with losses only to Liverpool and Chelsea.
If the Seagulls are to reward their fans with Champions League qualification, as they chanted about during Saturday’s match, they must become a formidable away team, on par with the top contenders.
Hurzeler, however, emphasized that his focus remained firmly on Bournemouth despite the chants at the Vitality Stadium.
‘I don’t listen, so they can sing what they want,’ he said through a smile.
‘I didn’t hear it. I was focused on the game, but I think it is always important to make the Seagulls supporters proud because, in the end, they pay a lot of money, they spend a lot of time to support us, and it’s our responsibility to give them something back.’
It was a disappointing way to end Andoni Iraola’s 50th league match at Bournemouth, but the overall picture of his time at the Vitality Stadium tells a different story. Despite the result, Iraola has done an impressive job at the helm, guiding the team to 17 wins, 12 draws, and 21 losses. His work at Bournemouth has exceeded expectations, with a style of play that has kept the team competitive in a tough league. In truth, it wouldn’t have been surprising to see them perform better in this match, which further underscores the remarkable job the 42-year-old has done since taking charge.
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