Barcelona may be facing an unexpected reliance on young star Lamine Yamal, whose influence on the team’s success is becoming more evident with each match. The absence of Yamal in both of Barcelona's league losses this season has raised questions about how much his presence impacts the team’s overall performance, sparking a debate that recalls the "Messi-dependence" of previous years.

In their recent match against Real Sociedad, Yamal was sidelined due to a right ankle injury sustained during Barcelona’s Champions League clash with Red Star Belgrade. His absence was felt, as Barcelona struggled with creativity and lacked attacking depth, attributes Yamal has consistently delivered since securing a place in the starting lineup.

Head coach Hansi Flick admitted that the team misses Yamal’s game-changing abilities but avoided placing the blame solely on his absence. “It’s normal to miss a player like Lamine. He has great quality, that’s clear. It would be easy to make excuses, but we’re not going to do that. We simply didn’t make the best choices,” Flick stated. 

Still, the tactical adjustments he made hinted otherwise. To fill Yamal’s role, Flick positioned Fermín López on the right wing, a spot where he isn’t as comfortable as in central areas, and the plan fell short. The usual connection on the right side between Koundé and Yamal, which has proven effective in many matches, was sorely missed.

Ansu Fati’s introduction in the second half brought some energy, but it wasn’t enough to level the score. Despite his youth, Yamal doesn’t only bring goals and assists; his presence creates imbalance in defenses, forcing them to allocate extra resources, which opens up space for other Barcelona players to exploit. Against a well-organized and relentless Real Sociedad, Yamal’s one-on-one skills and quick links with players like Pedri and Olmo were notably absent.

Currently, Yamal leads La Liga in assists with seven and is among the league’s top shot-takers, just behind renowned players like Lewandowski, Mbappé, and Raphinha. He also ranks among the highest goal-scorers with five goals. His ability to generate scoring chances and his impact on the game make him increasingly hard to replace.

Barcelona’s defeat in San Sebastián can be attributed to a mix of factors: Yamal’s absence, an outstanding performance by Real Sociedad, and tactical decisions that didn’t pay off. Moving forward, Flick and the team will need to find ways not to become overly dependent on Yamal, as his presence should not be the sole solution for a team with Barcelona's history and competitive standards.