Raphinha, Barcelona’s attacking star, has his return timeline locked in after an injury hit, as the Blaugrana gear up for crucial fixtures.
A fresh setback has disrupted manager Hansi Flick’s plans, forcing reliance on youth and new signings to confront the league-leading Merengues.
Despite the blow, Barcelona’s squad remains determined to deliver a statement performance in this high-stakes rivalry clash.
The Brazilian winger, Raphinha, has suffered a relapse in his right biceps femoris injury, sidelining him for another three weeks, per Friday’s tests reported by AS.
Initially injured on September 25, his premature return to training caused this setback, with Barcelona’s medical staff admitting fault for rushing his recovery.
The prognosis rules Raphinha out of El Clásico, with a potential return targeted for November 22 against Athletic Bilbao at San Mamés, post the November international break.
This extends his total absence to nearly two months, a significant loss for Flick, who has noted how much he misses the 28-year-old’s attacking dynamism.
Raphinha’s wife shared encouragement on social media, posting, “Ánimos, regresarás más fuerte!”—reflecting the injury’s severity.
Barcelona avoided an official medical statement to limit controversy, but the winger’s absence, alongside Robert Lewandowski, Dani Olmo, and others, strains their attack.
Showing leadership, Raphinha attended Saturday’s training to rally his teammates before their Madrid trip, underscoring his importance off the pitch.
Flick’s 4-2-3-1 setup will now depend on Lamine Yamal, Fermín López, and newcomers like Marcus Rashford to challenge Real Madrid’s depleted defense.
Raphinha’s confirmed return date offers hope for Barcelona’s season, but his absence in El Clásico tests their depth and resilience.
As the Blaugrana face Xabi Alonso’s side, they must overcome this hurdle to seize a crucial victory.
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