Raphinha to Miss Barcelona’s Next Two Games as Flick Takes Cautious Approach

Barcelona forward Raphinha will miss the club’s next two matches against Getafe and Galatasaray as head coach Hansi Flick adopts a cautious approach to managing the Brazilian international’s fitness.

Flick confirmed on Friday that the winger would not be available for Saturday’s La Liga encounter against Getafe or Barcelona’s UEFA Champions League fixture against Galatasaray on Tuesday.

The German coach explained that the decision was precautionary, citing Raphinha’s injury history last season and the need to avoid further physical setbacks.

“Raphinha does not have an injury, but we have to be careful because last year he had three injuries. We need to take care of him,” Flick said.

The 29-year-old recently experienced discomfort in his right thigh during Brazil’s international friendly against Australia. He subsequently returned to Barcelona for further assessment, with medical examinations reportedly finding no confirmed injury. However, the club has opted against rushing him back into competitive action.

Raphinha’s absence comes at a demanding stage of Barcelona’s October schedule, with the Catalan side balancing domestic league commitments with European competition. Flick will have to consider alternative attacking options for the two fixtures as he seeks to maintain the team’s momentum.

The Barcelona manager has several options available in attack, including Gabriel Jesus, Dani Olmo and other forwards capable of filling different roles in his system. Gabriel Jesus has emerged as a possible replacement for the Brazilian, according to Spanish media reports.

The decision also reflects the importance of managing players’ workloads following the international break, particularly with Barcelona facing a packed run of fixtures in the coming weeks.

While Flick has not indicated that Raphinha is dealing with a confirmed injury, his absence from the next two games will be a setback for Barcelona as they prepare for two important tests in La Liga and the Champions League.

The club will continue to monitor the forward’s condition as it seeks to ensure that he returns to action without risking another physical setback.