A closer look at Barcelona’s struggles without their talismanic winger
· Yahoo Sports
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.
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As pointed out by MARCA, in every single match Barcelona has lost this season, Flick has been unable to count on the winger from the start.
Barcelona’s struggles without Raphinha
While it is true that Raphinha featured in the Champions League defeat against Chelsea, he was only introduced for 28 minutes as a substitute when the side was already trailing 2-0 and playing with ten men following Ronald Araujo’s dismissal.
Beyond that, the Brazilian talisman was missing for every other setback this year, including critical losses against Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain, Real Sociedad, and Sevilla.
Raphinha has been integral to Barcelona’s success this season. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)
His importance to the system is backed by his high-level production, having recorded eight goals, three assists, and 27 opportunities created across 14 La Liga appearances this season.
Raphinha’s influence extends far beyond his goals and chances created, though. He provides a relentless character and pressing intensity that often dictates the team’s mentality on the pitch.
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.