Barcelona winger’s fitness raises concerns after missing 42% games this season with injuries | OneFootball

As FC Barcelona get set to take on Atletico Madrid later tonight in the first leg of the Copa del Rey semi-finals, they will be without key winger and one of the club captains, Raphinha.

The 29-year-old Brazilian international has been out of action for over a week now, having missed the last two matches against Albacete and RCD Mallorca.

While there were expectations that he could return in time for tonight’s trip to the Riyadh Air Metropolitano, things have not worked out that way, and the former Leeds United man will sit this one out as well.

16 matches missed

With the first leg of the Copa del Rey semi-final at the Metropolitano, Raphinha has now missed 16 official matches for Barcelona this season, reports AS.

That represents 42% of all the games played by the team in the current campaign.

The figure contrasts sharply with last season’s numbers, when he featured in 57 of 60 matches. It was an enormous workload, combining club duties with trips to Brazil for international matches, that he only slightly felt towards the end of the campaign.

This time around, however, Raphinha has been struggling to stay fit and available for sustained spells, missing nearly half the matches that the Catalans have played.

Dealing with fitness issues. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)

Whether or not it is a consequence of last season, Raphinha has endured a difficult start to this campaign.

A tear in the biceps femoris of his right leg, with two unexpected relapses, kept him out for two months. He missed three Champions League group-stage matches and six league fixtures.

His form improved in December and January, coinciding with Barcelona’s sustained spell of success. After returning from Saudi Arabia with the Spanish Super Cup in the bag, Raphinha continued his strong run of form before he was injured again against Elche.

The messages from manager Hansi Flick, for whom Raphinha is an extension of himself on the pitch, convey concern.

“Something will have to change, and we will as well,” the German recently said regarding the Brazilian’s latest setback.

Raphinha’s ongoing problem is an overload that causes him pain when running, and which, according to the doctors, does not even amount to a proper injury.

It is bad news for the player, who relies on repeated efforts, explosive sprints and sharp changes of direction, and a cause for concern for Barcelona.