Barcelona captain a major doubt for El Clasico after suffering setback in recovery - report | Barca Universal

"Raphinha sustained his injury two weeks ago after the match against Real Oviedo. Initially, he was ruled out of the clashes against Girona and Olympiacos, with hopes that he would return in time for the trip to the Santiago Bernabeu. However, his recovery has not progressed as expected, and the latest tests have revealed discomfort in his hamstring once again, indicating that his condition is more severe than first thought."

"The plan was for Raphinha to gradually return to the pitch this week, using the games against Girona and Olympiacos as preparation for El Clasico. Instead, this crucial recovery period has turned into a setback that has left his participation in the high-stakes clash on October 26 completely uncertain. At present, he has not been able to train on the pitch since the international break."

Raphinha suffered a hamstring injury two weeks ago after Barcelona's match against Real Oviedo and was initially ruled out of the games against Girona and Olympiacos. The plan was for him to use those matches to prepare for the El Clasico at the Santiago Bernabeu, but recovery has stalled. Latest tests showed renewed hamstring discomfort, indicating a more severe condition than expected. He has not trained on the pitch since the international break and continues individual gym work with four days before the Girona fixture. Hansi Flick and the medical team are adopting a cautious approach, making Raphinha's participation on October 26 increasingly uncertain.

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