"Barcelona suffered a devastating psychological blow last Thursday at the Metropolitano, enduring the worst defeat of the Hansi Flick era with a 4-0 thrashing at the hands of Atletico Madrid. The German coach was forced to navigate the high-stakes clash without Raphinha, and as the season moves past its halfway point, the reality is that the team's struggles are deeply linked to the Brazilian's absence."
"Despite not wearing the physical armband, he has effectively emerged as an on-field captain, and his ability to win duels, having notably registered 29 so far this term, is vital to maintaining the aggressive high line Flick demands. There is finally a glimmer of hope for the Barça faithful as the recovery of their star forward appears imminent, with reports suggesting that he is likely to be available for the upcoming game against Girona."
Barcelona suffered a 4-0 defeat at the Metropolitano, marking the worst loss of the Hansi Flick era. The German coach managed the match without Raphinha, whose absence has coincided with every loss this season when he did not start. Raphinha appeared only as a 28-minute substitute in the Champions League loss to Chelsea while the side trailed and played with ten men. He missed key defeats to Real Madrid, PSG, Real Sociedad and Sevilla. He has eight goals, three assists and 27 chances created in 14 La Liga appearances, and 29 duels won. His pressing intensity and on-field leadership are crucial, and his recovery appears imminent ahead of Girona.
Read at Barca Universal
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