FC Barcelona faces a setback in their La Liga and UEFA Champions League title aspirations as Raphinha, playing for Brazil, sustained a hamstring injury during a pre-World Cup friendly. This injury marks the second time this season that Raphinha has faced a right hamstring issue, having been sidelined for nearly two months previously. The forward will now return to Barcelona for treatment, impacting the team’s upcoming crucial matches.
Barcelona is set to play against Atletico Madrid in La Liga on April 4, followed by a Champions League quarterfinal clash with the same opponent four days later. Subsequently, they will face Espanyol in a La Liga derby on April 11 before the Champions League second leg on April 14 at the Metropolitano Stadium. Raphinha’s absence poses a challenge for Barcelona, given his significant contributions of 14 goals and six assists in 27 appearances this season.
Before the international break, both FC Barcelona and Real Madrid secured narrow victories to keep the La Liga title race intense. Barcelona defeated Rayo Vallecano 1-0, while Real Madrid triumphed over Atletico Madrid 3-2 in a closely contested Madrid Derby. With the league entering a crucial phase, Barcelona leads the standings with 73 points, four points ahead of Real Madrid, who have 69 points after 29 matches. The break is seen as a timely opportunity for Barcelona to recover and improve their performance.
Despite the break offering a chance for recuperation, Barcelona’s plans have been disrupted by Raphinha’s injury, necessitating strategic adjustments to mitigate its impact on the team’s upcoming fixtures.
