The late September-early October international break is nearing its end, but there is plenty for FC Barcelona fans to talk about. Lamine Yamal continues to lead the Spanish team while Anthony Gordon shines again for England; FC Barcelona's international players have been anything but quiet. Joao Cancelo and Hamza Abdelkarim have also scored, but the biggest news for Barca has been off the pitch. However, Raphinha's injury seems not as bad as initially predicted.
Barcelona will soon play its next Spanish league match against Getafe on October 10, 2026. It is great news for Hansi Flick and the Barcelona supporters.
Lamine Yamal continues to lead Spain
Lamine Yamal is one of the few Barcelona players who seem to be unfazed by the weight of his expectations. The young star continues to impress for Spain, who fought hard to beat Czechia 3-1 in their Nations League match. It took just six minutes for Yamal to score his first goal for Spain. He showed why he has become one of football's most important attackers. After receiving the ball from Dani Olmo, the Barcelona winger cut inside before a low shot to the bottom corner.
The Spaniards got off to a perfect start, and we were reminded of how a goal from Yamal can change the course of a match in an instant. He was not just a scoring hero, but his role on the field was also essential. The dribbling from Yamal resulted in some difficulties for the Czechs since he had to chase them back, leaving space for other Spanish players. Eventually, Spain won the match 3-1, scoring through Rodri and Mikel Merino. Despite the difficulties that Czechia caused on occasions, Spain continued its undefeated Nations League campaign.
Yamal was replaced by Victor Munoz at half-time, allowing him to rest before returning to Barcelona. This is good news for Barcelona. Yamal has been impressive for Spain without having to play every minute, which means Flick will have a fresher star player in the coming days.
Anthony Gordon continues his international breakout
Yamal has been the main man for Barcelona fans for a long time, but Anthony Gordon is another player who is worth paying attention to. Gordon produced an exceptional performance for England in their 7-0 victory over Croatia in Rijeka.
The Barcelona winger was the third scorer for England in the 39th minute and also set up another goal in one of the most dominating international performances from England in recent years. Gordon was replaced after 70 minutes, again playing a crucial part in the England attack. This continued the good form of Gordon at the international level.
His pace, straightness, and willingness to be an attacking threat have made him a dangerous option for England. The same skills can serve him well at Barcelona once the domestic season begins. For Barca fans, seeing Gordon perform so well in the international break is just another reason to be excited about the attacking options Flick has at his disposal.
Don't panic about Croatia's 7-0 defeat
The 7-0 score is unforgivable. Croatia suffered the worst defeat in its history as England scored seven goals through Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham, Gordon, Bukayo Saka and Morgan Rogers. Barcelona fans may have been more interested in the match as the team's second goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic was playing for Croatia. Dominik Livakovic has now played in two consecutive losses for Croatia in which the team has conceded 11 goals.
This is a frightening stat, but Croatia's goalkeeper shouldn't take all the blame. The team has a new coach, a changing squad and, perhaps most importantly, mediocre finishing. They were disconnected against England while England were unstoppable in movement, pressing, and attack. Without Livakovic, the score might have been even worse.
And Barcelona fans should not start panicking about Livakovic. In cases where the team completely loses the game, the goalkeeper becomes vulnerable. Croatia's defeat on Saturday was not a mistake by any one player. Now Croatia needs to regroup quickly, especially as they are going to face Spain next.
Joao Cancelo gets on the scoresheet
Another player from the Barcelona team who proved to be an important figure over the international period is Joao Cancelo. The Portuguese defender netted in a match that ended 4-2 for his team against Denmark, ensuring that his team remains unbeaten in the Nations League campaign. Attack has always been an important part of Cancelo’s game.
Flick, who likes to see his defenders versatile and offensively minded, will be another positive for Cancelo on the way back to Catalonia.
Hamza Abdelkarim announces himself for Egypt
Barcelona’s youth had their moment of joy, too. Hamza Abdelkarim scored the first international goal of his career in an African Cup of Nations qualification match when Egypt thrashed South Sudan 5-0. Hamza is only 18 years of age and scored the goal when he came on as a substitute in injury time. This made him the third-youngest player to score for Egypt. This is an excellent development for Barcelona fans.
Abdelkarim is at the very beginning of his senior career. His first international goal at such a young age will give him more confidence as he continues his development.
Barcelona receive huge Raphinha injury boost
One of the biggest pieces of news during the break was from the medical department. Raphinha returned to Catalonia after feeling pain and swelling in his right thigh while representing Brazil. The Brazilian's importance to Flick's team made everyone fear the worst. But the fear of the fans was relieved.
The medical tests carried out on Raphinha at Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper revealed that there is no sign of any injury or muscle damage to him. The Barcelona medical team has cleared him to be available for selection. That's huge for Flick. Raphinha has been a vital player for Barcelona's early season, and he may prove to be an essential player as the campaign intensifies.
Barcelona's next match in La Liga will be against Getafe on Saturday, October 10. They also have a difficult October schedule that includes Galatasaray, Real Betis, Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid.
Barcelona fans can breathe a little easier
One or two more international matches are yet to be played before the return of club football. Nevertheless, there is plenty of good news for Barcelona during the international break. Yamal has again shown his prowess for Spain. Gordon is having a great time with England. Cancelo scored for Portugal. Abdelkarim got his first international cap with Egypt. Raphinha, on the other hand, has avoided a serious injury.
The question of the Barcelona players' national teams may arise (particularly Croatia's defense in the finals), but Flick will be more concerned with getting his players back healthy than their international performances. Barcelona are currently top of the league, and there are several big games to come in October. Having a healthy squad is the goal at this point, but the team is already leading La Liga, so the main goal is to get through the international break healthy and get back to work. For now, Barca fans have many reasons for optimism.
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