Barcelona have been dealt a significant blow at the start of a congested fixture week, after German manager Hansi Flick announced that Raphinha will miss the upcoming matches against Getafe and Galatasaray due to incomplete recovery from an injury sustained on international duty with Brazil.
The Catalan club hosts Getafe on Saturday in La Liga, before traveling to face Galatasaray on Tuesday in the UEFA Champions League—leaving Flick without one of his primary attacking weapons for two fixtures separated by less than 72 hours.
Speaking at his pre-match press conference ahead of the Getafe clash, Flick stated: “Raphinha will not be available against Getafe, nor will he make the Galatasaray match.”
The German coach explained that the technical staff will not risk the Brazilian international before he achieves full recovery, noting that featuring him prematurely could trigger a relapse resulting in a longer lay-off, though he stopped short of setting a definitive timetable for his return.
Raphinha’s injury dates back to his appearance for Brazil against Australia, where he experienced discomfort in his right hamstrings. He subsequently left the national team camp early, missing the following match against India before returning to Barcelona for medical evaluation. Tests ruled out a muscle tear, revealing only a minor muscle edema.
Optimism had initially prevailed within Barcelona regarding his availability for the Getafe match; however, the winger was limited to individual drills and physical therapy sessions throughout the week to reduce swelling. Raphinha attempted a fitness test on the pitch on Friday prior to group training, but persistent discomfort prompted the club to exclude him from the next two fixtures.
The 29-year-old’s absence represents a heavy loss for Flick, following a sensational start to the season in which Raphinha scored 14 goals across Barcelona’s opening 8 matches in all competitions—shattering the record for the best goalscoring start by a player in club history, previously held by César Rodríguez since the 1948–49 campaign.
In Raphinha’s absence, Flick is expected to deploy Gabriel Jesus in the forward line, with potential tactical adjustments involving Karim Adeyemi and Anthony Gordon. The manager did not guarantee his star forward’s return against Real Betis on October 17, as the decision will hinge on his physical progress ahead of upcoming clashes against Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid later in the month.
