Why is Raphinha not playing for Barcelona against Athletic Club today in LaLiga?
The Brazilian forward was left out of Hansi Flick’s starting XI against their Basque opponents.
Brazilian forward Raphinha was left out of Hansi Flick’s starting XI for FC Barcelona’s LaLiga game against Athletic Club, raising concerns over an injury.
However, fan fear can be calmed as the decision is purely based on giving the player adequate rest in a quick-fire turnaround for the Catalan club in the coming days, with Champions League football on the horizon and a gruelling Copa del Rey semi-final just gone by.
Raphinha played the full 90 minutes in a 3-0 win against Atlético Madrid which saw them lose out on a place in the final after suffering a 4-0 loss in the Spanish capital, which he missed due to a hamstring injury.
Given the recent injury recovery process plus a first leg game against Newcastle in the UEFA Champions League coming up next week, Raphinha has been placed on the bench by Hansi Flick as they look to recover the 4-point lead at the top of the LaLiga table.
Last night their advantage was cut down to a single point following Real Madrid’s dramatic escape from Vigo with all three points; a tough game against Celta ended with a last-gasp Fede Valverde goal that deflected in past Radu to keep the title race alive.
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