Barcelona’s Yamal and Lewandowski Out Due to Injuries

FC Barcelona's Robert Lewandowski puts his hands on his head during the Spanish LaLiga soccer match between Real Sociedad and FC Barcelona, in San Sebastian, Spain, 10 November 2024. (EPA)
FC Barcelona's Robert Lewandowski puts his hands on his head during the Spanish LaLiga soccer match between Real Sociedad and FC Barcelona, in San Sebastian, Spain, 10 November 2024. (EPA)
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Barcelona’s Yamal and Lewandowski Out Due to Injuries

FC Barcelona's Robert Lewandowski puts his hands on his head during the Spanish LaLiga soccer match between Real Sociedad and FC Barcelona, in San Sebastian, Spain, 10 November 2024. (EPA)
FC Barcelona's Robert Lewandowski puts his hands on his head during the Spanish LaLiga soccer match between Real Sociedad and FC Barcelona, in San Sebastian, Spain, 10 November 2024. (EPA)

There was more bad news for Barcelona a day after its second Spanish league loss, with the club saying Lamine Yamal and Robert Lewandowski are sidelined by injuries.

Both players, who have been key for coach Hansi Flick this season, underwent tests on Monday. Yamal will be out for up to three weeks because of an ankle injury and Lewandowski will be rested for 10 days because of “trouble in the lumbar region of his back.”

Lewandowski is La Liga's top scorer with 14 after 12 matches. Many of the goals came with help from 17-year-old Yamal, one of Barcelona's most dangerous forwards in an attack that has outscored opponents 40-12 in La Liga and 15-5 in the Champions League.

Barcelona lost at Real Sociedad 1-0 in La Liga on Sunday, ending the team's seven-game winning streak across all competitions. The Catalan club remained six points ahead of second-placed Real Madrid.

Fermín López replaced Yamal in the attack on Sunday, when Barcelona couldn't get a single attempt on target against eighth-placed Sociedad. Lewandowski had a goal disallowed for offside.



Tax Evasion Trial for Real Madrid Coach Carlo Ancelotti Opens in Spain

Real Madrid's head coach Carlo Ancelotti (C) arrives to stand trial over alleged tax fraud, in Madrid, Spain, 02 April 2025. EPA/JJ GUILLEN
Real Madrid's head coach Carlo Ancelotti (C) arrives to stand trial over alleged tax fraud, in Madrid, Spain, 02 April 2025. EPA/JJ GUILLEN
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Tax Evasion Trial for Real Madrid Coach Carlo Ancelotti Opens in Spain

Real Madrid's head coach Carlo Ancelotti (C) arrives to stand trial over alleged tax fraud, in Madrid, Spain, 02 April 2025. EPA/JJ GUILLEN
Real Madrid's head coach Carlo Ancelotti (C) arrives to stand trial over alleged tax fraud, in Madrid, Spain, 02 April 2025. EPA/JJ GUILLEN

Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti arrived at a Spanish court Wednesday for the opening of his trial on tax evasion charges.
Spanish prosecutors have accused the highly successful Italian coach of defrauding the state of 1 million euros ($1 million) in 2014 and 2015. State prosecutors are seeking a prison sentence of up to four years and nine months on two counts of tax fraud.
They accused Ancelotti in March 2024 of having used shell companies to hide his true earnings. Prosecutors claimed Ancelotti, for example, used one company that lacked “any real (economic) activity” in the Virgin Islands as part of an alleged scheme.
Ancelotti had denied any wrongdoing before the trial.
He arrived to the Madrid-based courthouse dressed in one of his dark blue suits that he wears while coaching games, The Associated Press reported.
When asked by television journalists if he trusted in the justice system, he responded “I do” as he walked up the courthouse steps.
Ancelotti proclaimed his innocence when first accused last year, arguing he was not a fiscal resident of Spain during part of that time. Prosecutors disagree.
“I already paid the fine, the money is with them, and now the lawyers are talking to try to find a solution,” Ancelotti said in March 2024. “Let’s see what the judge says.”
The 65-year-old Ancelotti is one of soccer’s most successful coaches. He has won the Champions League a record five times, three with Madrid and twice with AC Milan, and is the only coach to have won domestic league titles in England, Spain, Italy, Germany and France.
He coached Madrid from 2013-15 before starting his current stint in 2021.