How have Raphinha's absences through injury affected Barcelona in 2025/26?

[p]Under Xavi’s stewardship, it seemed very likely at one point that the former [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/leeds/tUxUbLR2/"]Leeds United[/a] winger would be sold, having rarely played for more than an hour in many games.[/p][h2]New lease of life under Hansi Flick[/h2][p]However, since Hansi Flick was installed as coach, the Brazilian has been given a new lease of life.[/p][p]As one of the captains of the team [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/raphinha/xtBsDPam/"]Raphinha[/a] has thrived, taking the responsibility completely in his stride. The way in which he’s led the team, with or without the armband, has certainly been one of the major successes of the Flick era.[/p][embed guid="c7fd706f-d393-4aab-946c-666054d8d3cc" url="https://x.com/FabrizioRomano/status/1838112312055521725" social-type="twitter" /][p]Whilst it’s true that he’s gone a little off the boil in 2025/26, compared to the previous campaign, he still has 19 goals and seven assists in all competitions to his name in the current season.[/p][p]His most recent injury, a third thigh complaint since August, has again seen a dip in [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/barcelona/SKbpVP5K/"]Barca[/a]’s results, most notably [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/atl-madrid/jaarqpLQ/"]Atleti[/a]’s [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/atl-madrid-jaarqpLQ/barcelona-SKbpVP5K/?mid=8pBGO97F"]2-0 win at Camp Nou[/a], the first time they’d won there in 20 years.[/p][h2]Absent from Atletico Madrid thumping[/h2][p]Los Rojiblancos were also victors during Raphinha’s last spell out of the side, on that occasion thumping Barca 4-0 in the first leg of the Copa del Rey semi-final.[/p][p]The team have also won in his absence, of course, including swatting aside an [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/espanyol/QFfPdh1J/"]Espanyol[/a] side on a double-digit run of games without a win, and a cup win at [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/albacete/UirAofN6/"]Albacete[/a], but neither of those matches can really be used as the yardstick, with respect.[/p][image alt="Raphinha's recent injuries" id="c1401ac7-3493-4ccb-b606-8a673b3ad25d" credit-line="Flashscore" guid="456a6032-38e1-4af7-bb23-7bbe43b338fe" original-width="1200" original-height="1200" /][p]Perhaps a truer reflection of how much he was missed came earlier in the season when he was out for nine consecutive games in all competitions.[/p][p]In amongst that run came a 4-1 loss at Sevilla, a 2-1 defeat in El Clasico to [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/real-madrid/W8mj7MDD/"]Real Madrid[/a] and a 3-3 draw against [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/club-brugge/rgTHIK74/"]Club Brugge[/a] in the Champions League.[/p][h2]Barca haven't been the same in the big games without Raphinha[/h2][p]Wins against [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/girona/nNNpcUSL/"]Girona[/a], [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/elche/4jl02tPF/"]Elche[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/olympiacos-piraeus/hnzvnHPS/"]Olympiacos[/a] were arguably expected, so a pattern does appear to emerge from Raphinha’s absences.[/p][p]In the bigger games this season, Barca have been found wanting, the second leg on Tuesday night notwithstanding.[/p][image alt="Raphinha's xG map - LaLiga 2025/26" id="9e3e0058-b4a2-41fa-932b-27c470b5d0bb" credit-line="Opta by Stats Perform" guid="a6dfa47b-173a-4e5f-ae64-3154861bb758" original-width="768" original-height="576" /][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/rashford-marcus/COnT2Lh0/"]Marcus Rashford[/a] has ostensibly been the go-to guy in the Brazilian’s place, and he has produced a remarkable set of figures for a first season with the club, particularly as a bit-part player to a certain extent.[/p][p]However, despite setting as good an example as possible, the Englishman isn’t quite in Raphinha’s class.[/p][h2]Great numbers despite the injuries[/h2][p]The Brazilian charges around the pitch like his life depended on it, and no ball is a lost cause. [/p][p]His goals and assists output in 25/26 are only bettered by [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/lamine-yamal/lAt3vEub/"]Lamine Yamal[/a], with the young prodigy having played 12 games (and approximately 1,500 minutes) more than him to date this season.[/p][image alt="Raphinha's attacking carries - LaLiga 2025/26" id="16d9533c-0b1d-43d2-9b62-ad034273c173" credit-line="Opta by Stats Perform" guid="aefc3db9-63a9-4bac-b479-c9c0dffdcda0" original-width="768" original-height="576" /][p]57 crosses from open play are again second to Lamine, with a 30.4% success rate only marginally worse than [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/kounde-jules/v36QVRPu/"]Jules Kounde[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/cancelo-joao/dAyeWYpm/"]Joao Cancelo[/a].[/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/fermin/2c2ipETG/"]Fermin Lopez[/a] and Lamine are the two players to have created slightly more than Raphinha’s 18 big chances, with Rashford the only player to have created more than the Brazilian’s 17 chances from set plays.[/p][p]A 50% tackle success - he’s won and lost 14 of his 28 attempts - is acceptable for a player where defence isn’t necessarily his primary concern, nor could it be said to be his forte either. Ditto his 15 clearances and eight interceptions.[/p][h2]An example to the young players[/h2][p]If there’s one area he could look to improve upon, it’s his pass completion.[/p][p]An 80.7% showing doesn’t sound particularly bad until you realise that only [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/torres-ferran/AVAVLaLt/"]Ferran Torres[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/lewandowski-robert/MVC8zHZD/"]Robert Lewandowski[/a] are worse off in this regard.[/p][p]There’s no question at all that Raphinha remains integral to the way in which Flick wants his Barcelona side to play.[/p][embed guid="9cc4a79f-0f39-438c-b745-3d780cf29b02" url="https://x.com/FCBarcelona/status/1849162685125914949" social-type="twitter" /][p]Defending from the front by hunting down the opposition at every opportunity, whilst also providing scintillating wing play, is a prerequisite.[/p][p]The confidence, spark and energy that the Brazilian gives to the side, his evolution as a senior member of the squad, and the manner in which he approaches every game ensure he remains a firm favourite with his teammates, the management team and the fans.[/p][p]Given how on edge Atletico were in the opening half hour of that UCL second leg, it’s not difficult to imagine just how much Raphinha would’ve profited down the left channel.[/p][embed guid="8adaa4b2-e8cc-4b89-b9bb-3c4229e93833" url="https://x.com/FCBarcelona/status/2002876738301489407?lang=en" social-type="twitter" /][p]That game was surely one of Barca’s best performances of the season and shows that they can cope without the Brazilian; however, with him in situ, the Catalans might well have gone through to a semi-final against [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/arsenal/hA1Zm19f/"]Arsenal[/a] or [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/sporting-cp/tljXuHBC/"]Sporting [/a]at Ateti's expense.[/p][p]Although the Blaugranes are still nine points ahead in LaLiga, too, the quicker their number 11 can return for the run-in, the better for Barca.[/p][image alt="Jason Pettigrove" id="aa80c261-d194-4f81-8500-e55eefcd2c46" credit-line="Flashscore" guid="cd6135af-1009-4958-9b61-513e1d54fecb" original-width="1200" original-height="380" /]