Forward ruled out for five weeks in big blow to Hansi Flick and Barcelona
Raphinha will miss Barcelona’s Champions League quarterfinal against Atletico Madrid after being ruled out for five weeks with a hamstring injury.
The 29-year-old suffered the injury during Brazil’s 2-1 friendly defeat to France and was substituted at halftime. Medical tests later confirmed damage to his right hamstring, forcing him to return to Barcelona for treatment.
Raphinha is not expected to play again until May, meaning he will miss a crucial run of fixtures. Barcelona are set to face Atletico three times in quick succession, including their La Liga game and the two-legged Champions League quarter-final tie next month.
The winger is also likely to be unavailable for a potential semifinal, should Barcelona progress, with matches scheduled at the end of April and early May.
This is the third time this season Raphinha has suffered a hamstring issue. He has still managed 19 goals in 31 appearances despite earlier absences between September and November, and again at the start of the year.
His injury opens the door for Marcus Rashford to feature on the left side of the attack, although head coach Hansi Flick has several alternatives. Dani Olmo, Fermin Lopez and Ferran Torres have all operated in wide roles, while Joao Cancelo and Roony Bardghji are also options.
