Hansi Flick is increasingly running out of attacking options ahead of the trip to the Bernabeu
Barcelona’s growing injury list has taken another turn for the worse after Raphinha suffered a setback in his recovery from a hamstring injury.
The club had been targeting a return for the Brazilian winger in time for their trip to the Santiago Bernabeu on 26 October, but medical tests earlier this week revealed he had not progressed as expected.
Raphinha felt discomfort during his latest fitness session so club doctors had to pause his recovery programme, according to Sport.
It is yet another frustrating blow for Hansi Flick, who is now also without Robert Lewandowski after the striker sustained a thigh injury while on international duty with Poland.
Barcelona confirmed on Tuesday that Lewandowski had suffered a “muscle tear in the biceps femoris of the left thigh”, with recovery expected to take four to six weeks.
Flick is also missing Gavi, Fermin Lopez, Dani Olmo, Joan Garcia, Lamine Yamal and Ferran Torres, although Torres may be passed fit for Saturday’s game against Girona, while Yamal could return to training by the weekend.
Raphinha’s setback leaves Flick without one of his strongest attacking options for at least the rest of October, when the Catalans face Girona and Olympiacos, and more importantly, travel to the Bernabeu to face Real Madrid.
