What Impact Have Raphinha’s Injury Absences Had on Barcelona in the 2025/26 Season?

At one stage under Xavi’s leadership, it seemed imminent that the former Leeds United star would be transferred, as he often struggled to complete over an hour on the pitch.

Renewed vitality with Hansi Flick

Nevertheless, since Hansi Flick took over as head coach, Raphinha has experienced a revival in form.

As one of the team’s leaders, he has embraced the responsibility with great enthusiasm. His ability to guide the team, both with and without the captain’s armband, has undoubtedly been a highlight of the Flick era.

While his performance has seen a slight decline in the 2025/26 season compared to the last, he still boasts an impressive tally of 19 goals and seven assists across all competitions this season.

His latest injury—his third thigh problem since August—has once again impacted Barcelona’s results, particularly evident in the 2-0 loss against Atleti at Camp Nou, marking their first victory there in two decades.

Missing during Atletico Madrid’s triumph

Atletico also prevailed during Raphinha’s last absence, delivering a crushing 4-0 defeat to Barca in the first leg of the Copa del Rey semi-final.

The team has managed to secure victories during his absence, notably thrashing an Espanyol side on a winless streak, as well as succeeding at Albacete in the cup. However, these fixtures don’t provide a fair benchmark, to put it mildly.

A clearer indication of his absence could be observed earlier in the season when he was sidelined for nine consecutive matches across all competitions.

During this stretch, Barcelona suffered a 4-1 defeat to Sevilla, a 2-1 loss in El Clasico against Real Madrid, and a frustrating 3-3 draw against Club Brugge in the Champions League.

Barcelona struggled in crucial matches without Raphinha

Victories over teams like Girona, Elche, and Olympiacos were largely anticipated, thus establishing a pattern during Raphinha’s absences.

In the more significant fixtures of this season, Barcelona has often fallen short, apart from their recent second leg performance.

Marcus Rashford has stepped up in Raphinha’s absence, putting forth impressive statistics in his debut season with the club, despite being somewhat of a fringe player.

Yet, while he exemplifies a commendable attitude, Rashford falls short of matching Raphinha’s calibre.

Impressive stats despite injury setbacks

The Brazilian is relentless on the pitch, chasing every loose ball as if his life depended on it.

In the current season, Raphinha’s goals and assists tally is only surpassed by Lamine Yamal, who has played approximately 1,500 minutes more than him this term.

With 57 open-play crosses, he ranks second only to Lamine in this category, with a success rate of 30.4%, mildly trailing behind Jules Kounde and Joao Cancelo.

Fermin Lopez and Lamine have slightly surpassed Raphinha’s tally of 18 key chances created, while Marcus Rashford has outperformed his 17 chances originated from set pieces.

Raphinha’s tackle success rate stands at 50%, having won 14 out of 28 attempts, which is reasonable for a player whose primary focus isn’t defensive duties. He has also made 15 clearances and eight interceptions.

Setting an example for younger teammates

One area that he could improve upon would be his passing accuracy.

With an 80.7% completion rate, although it may not seem alarming, it ranks as one of the lower figures for the squad, surpassing only Ferran Torres and Robert Lewandowski.

It’s unquestionable that Raphinha is crucial to the tactical framework that Flick envisions for Barcelona.

His proactive pressing style, aiming to regain possession from opponents swiftly while showcasing dazzling wing play, is essential.

The confidence, flair, and dynamism he brings to the squad, coupled with his maturation as an integral team member, make him a beloved figure among teammates, management, and supporters alike.

Given Atletico’s vulnerability during the opening half-hour of the recent UCL clash, it’s easy to envision how much Raphinha would have exploited the left flank.

That night showcased one of Barcelona’s finest displays of the season, underscoring their capability to perform without him; still, with Raphinha in the fold, they might have advanced to a semi-final against either Arsenal or Sporting at Atletico’s expense.

As it stands, while Barcelona maintains a solid nine-point lead in LaLiga, the sooner Raphinha can return for the closing stretch of fixtures, the more beneficial it will be for the club.