Lamine Yamal set to return from injury ahead of El Classico

Injury-hit Barcelona expect to have Lamine Yamal back fit to face Girona in La Liga on Saturday, in a welcome boost as the Catalans aim to bounce back from a damaging defeat with the Clasico in their sights.

Hansi Flick's side were hammered 4-1 by Sevilla before the international break and must regroup before facing Real Madrid on October 26.

Midfielder Pedri Gonzalez said Barca's performance in Seville was the team's worst under Flick, and since then Robert Lewandowski and Dani Olmo have suffered injuries to deepen their plight.

However, Yamal and Fermin Lopez returned to training this week and are expected to be fit to face Girona, while Raphinha is also nearing a return.

Teenage star Yamal missed the thrashing by Sevilla and then Spain's World Cup qualifiers with the recurrence of a groin problem but should feature against Girona in a derby clash.

Yamal's expected return is a welcome boost for Barca ahead of a busy period, with a Champions League match against Olympiacos following on Tuesday ahead of the Clasico.

Joan Garcia, Gavi and Marc-Andre ter Stegen are longer-term absentees, and Flick's options remain thin, without much room for rotation.

The coach was careful not to further reduce the morale of his players after their collapse at Sevilla.

"It's one match and we lost it, and we have to keep going on," said the coach, praising his team's second-half display after an especially poor first period.

It was Barcelona's first defeat of the season, leaving them two points behind leaders Real Madrid, but not their first bad performance.