Barcelona Confirm Raphinha Will Miss El Clásico Due to Injury Recovery

Raphinha still recovering from hamstring injury, ruled out for El Clásico.

FC Barcelona winger Raphinha will miss Sunday’s El Clásico against Real Madrid due to his ongoing recovery from a hamstring injury. Although he resumed training earlier this week, the 28-year-old couldn’t complete Thursday’s session and sat out on Friday after not feeling fully fit.

Rumors about a possible injury relapse began circulating, but Barcelona has since confirmed that Raphinha hasn’t experienced a setback. Still, he’s not ready to return to full fitness and will not be included in the squad for the upcoming match at the Santiago Bernabéu.

No Injury Relapse, But Recovery Still Ongoing

According to reports from Mundo Deportivo, Raphinha’s recovery is progressing as expected, but he’s still not at 100%. The club is taking a cautious approach, with medical staff advising against rushing his return. There is no fixed timeline for his comeback, but Barcelona is hopeful that he will be back soon.

Raphinha’s Absence a Blow for Barcelona

Raphinha’s absence is a significant loss for Barcelona in such an important match. The Brazilian was key in last season’s 0-4 win over Real Madrid, scoring one of the goals. His pace and creativity in the final third will be missed on Sunday, but Barcelona will be relieved that his injury has not worsened.

Manager Hansi Flick will have to adjust his tactics without Raphinha, relying on other key players like Robert Lewandowski to lead the attack. While the team will miss Raphinha’s dynamic style, they’ll need to find ways to break down Real Madrid’s defense.

Conclusion

Raphinha’s absence will certainly affect Barcelona’s plans for El Clásico, but the positive news of no injury relapse provides some relief. The team will look to their remaining attacking options for Sunday’s crucial match against Real Madrid.