Barcelona’s Super Cup final MVP played El Clasico through pain | OneFootball

A recent revelation from Catalunya Radio has uncovered the full extent of Raphinha’s physical struggle during Barcelona’s dramatic Spanish Super Cup final victory over Real Madrid. 

What looked like a night of brilliance and confidence on the surface was, in reality, built on pain management, medical caution, and the player’s unwavering belief in himself.

In the final hours before El Clasico, there were serious internal discussions about whether Raphinha should even be risked. 

What happened to Raphinha?

The Brazilian had been dealing with discomfort in the adductor of his left thigh, an issue that has been bothering him since the start of the year. 

In fact, he had already played through pain in the derby against Espanyol, forcing Barcelona’s medical staff to carefully monitor his condition in the weeks that followed.

Because of these ongoing muscular problems, Barça’s doctors and physical trainers had put a strict minutes-management plan in place. 

The idea was to protect him, and in principle, the Brazilian was advised to limit his presence to around 60 minutes in the semi-final and the showdown.

Raphinha played the final through pain. (Photo by Yasser Bakhsh/Getty Images)

Even after the semi-final win over Athletic Club, the discomfort had not fully disappeared. 

That uncertainty led to last-minute evaluations ahead of the final against Real Madrid. 

Until very late, there was genuine doubt about whether Raphinha would be able to start without risking a more serious injury.

Raphinha stood up

Ultimately, the decision was made jointly by the medical staff and the player himself. 

After further assessments, the doctors confirmed to Flick that Raphinha was fit to play and that there was no immediate risk of injury. 

What followed justified that trust. Raphinha played 83 demanding minutes and scored two crucial goals and was directly responsible for guiding Barcelona to a thrilling 3–2 victory. 

Across the two Super Cup matches, Raphinha finished with four goals and collected two MVP awards.