Simply when it appeared Barcelona would possibly lastly have some excellent news on the harm entrance, Raphinha’s relapse has delivered a significant blow forward of Sunday’s El Clasico in opposition to Actual Madrid. The Brazilian winger, as soon as anticipated to make his comeback for the extremely anticipated conflict, will now miss the journey to the Santiago Bernabeu after struggling a recurrence of his hamstring downside.
Barcelona head coach Hansi Flick confirmed the information on Saturday morning, admitting that the timing and administration of Raphinha’s restoration have backfired. The 34-year-old supervisor, who has already been serving a touchline suspension from the earlier match, now faces his greatest choice headache since taking on the Blaugrana.
With Robert Lewandowski nonetheless unavailable, the German tactician should as soon as once more reshuffle his attacking choices — a troublesome ask in opposition to a Actual Madrid aspect driving excessive on confidence and prime of La Liga.
The setback was confirmed after checks carried out on Friday afternoon revealed a relapse in Raphinha’s proper hamstring, the identical space injured within the match in opposition to Actual Oviedo final month. In response to Diario AS, “The brand new harm is comparatively extra optimistic than the earlier one,” however it’s nonetheless severe sufficient to sideline him for round three weeks.
Raphinha of FC Barcelona warms up prior a sport.
Which means the 28-year-old will miss a number of key fixtures, together with league matches in opposition to Elche and Celta Vigo, and the Champions League conflict with Membership Brugge. His earliest doable return may come after the November worldwide break, most definitely within the away fixture in opposition to Athletic Membership on November 22. The relapse comes barely per week after the winger had returned to full coaching, fueling questions on whether or not the Catalans could have pushed him too quickly.
Flick admits the reality — and factors fingers
In a candid second with journalists on the membership’s Ciutat Esportiva coaching floor, Hansi Flick privately acknowledged that Raphinha’s restoration was rushed. Diario AS reported that the German coach “organized a casual briefing” and admitted that the membership’s eagerness to have the Brazilian again in time for El Clasico performed an element within the relapse.
Whereas Flick didn’t identify anybody straight, Spanish shops described his feedback as “pointing fingers at an ironic wrongdoer” — the membership’s personal medical and technical employees. In response to Mundo Deportivo, “Barcelona are internally accepting a mea culpa for accelerating his return.”
Raphinha and Hansi Flick
That admission echoes what many feared: the urgency to face Actual Madrid could have come on the expense of Raphinha’s well being. Barca, nonetheless, has reportedly determined to not subject a proper medical assertion to keep away from additional controversy. The membership needs to “shut the chapter quietly” earlier than the essential derby in Madrid.
The 28-year-old winger’s relapse means he’ll spend practically two full months out of motion for the reason that authentic harm in late September. For a participant whose depth and creativity usually spark Barcelona’s assault, this can be a devastating setback.
