Barcelona will be without Raphinha for their La Liga fixture against Real Sociedad on Sunday after the winger was ruled out as a precaution due to a knock to his right thigh. The club opted for caution rather than risk aggravating the issue, especially with a demanding run of fixtures ahead.
Raphinha’s absence, which was confirmed by the club’s official X account, is notable given his recent influence on the team. The Brazilian has been one of Barcelona’s standout performers this season and played a key role in their Spanish Super Cup success in Saudi Arabia.
Barcelona posted:
𝗠𝗘𝗗𝗜𝗖𝗔𝗟 𝗡𝗘𝗪𝗦
First team player Raphinha sits out the game against Real Sociedad as a precaution due to a knock to the right thigh.
His contribution in the final against Real Madrid, including a brace, underlined his importance, a performance that SoftFootball detailed when covering Barcelona’s Supercopa triumph.
In the buildup to the Sociedad game, head coach Hansi Flick had already hinted that Raphinha might be rested. He first explained the situation by acknowledging the uncertainty around the winger’s condition before making his position clear in his own words.
He said:
Yes, he’s having problems after a knock, and we’ll see what we decide and whether he plays or rests tomorrow.
That comment now reads as an early signal of the decision taken by the medical team. The caution is understandable. Raphinha missed the final training session and has been carefully managed in recent weeks due to muscle discomfort.
He previously suffered a relapse that kept him out for around two months between October and November 2025, making Barcelona unwilling to gamble on a similar setback.
From a sporting perspective, the timing is frustrating. Raphinha has recorded 11 goals and five assists in 18 appearances across all competitions and was central to Barcelona’s 11-game winning streak.
With Dro Fernández unavailable amid transfer speculation, the responsibility is expected to fall on Marcus Rashford to fill the gap on the wing.
For Barcelona, the decision reflects long-term thinking. With Champions League commitments looming and the season entering a critical phase, protecting an in-form Raphinha now could prove more valuable than risking him for a single league match.
