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Raphinha · Barcelona · Getafe · Hansi Flick

Raphinha out for Getafe and Galatasaray: Barcelona lose the scorer of 12 of their 31 goals

By the Data Desk · ·

First reported by Mundo Deportivo · 7 OCT 04:00

Raphinha trained alone again on Tuesday, and according to Mundo Deportivo, Hansi Flick’s staff are weighing whether to leave him out of the starting XI against Getafe on Saturday. The Brazilian has scored 12 of Barcelona’s 31 LaLiga goals this season, more than anyone in the league.

  • Raphinha came back early from Brazil with swelling in the back of his right thigh; tests found no injury.
  • He has 12 league goals in seven games as Barcelona’s central striker, five more than anyone else in LaLiga.
  • Barcelona play Getafe at Camp Nou on Saturday (17:30 UK), then Galatasaray, Betis, PSG and the Clásico by 25 October.
Why it mattersBarcelona have won all seven league games, and their striker has scored more than a third of their goals. Saturday shows how much of that run depends on one player, against a side that has conceded only seven goals in seven games.

Raphinha felt the problem in Brazil’s friendly against Australia on 29 September and left the squad early as a precaution. Barcelona’s tests ruled out an injury, and last week he was expected to be available. Mundo Deportivo now reports that he and goalkeeper Joan Garcia again trained on their own on Tuesday, and that the staff are leaning towards caution.

The numbers explain why his absence matters. Barcelona have won seven out of seven in LaLiga with 31 goals for and seven against. Raphinha, moved to No 9 this season, has 12 of those goals; Lamine Yamal is next with seven.

Getafe arrive with a very different profile. They have scored only four goals in seven league games but conceded just seven, the same number as Barcelona. José Bordalás has had the whole week with his squad, while Flick will have about two days with his internationals.

The calendar is the other reason to wait. After Getafe come Galatasaray away on Tuesday 13 October, Betis away on the 17th, PSG in Paris on the 20th and the first Clásico on the 25th. Mundo Deportivo itself calls it Barcelona’s first Tourmalet of the season.

Our take

Barcelona win, but the 31 goals get tested

If the report is right and Raphinha starts on the bench, we still think Barcelona win: 19 of their 31 league goals came from someone else. But this is the first Saturday of the season when the scoring stops being automatic, against a Getafe side that concedes one goal a game and has had a full week to prepare. For us, the number to watch is 0-0 at half-time: if it holds, Flick will have to bring Raphinha on, and resting him will have cost more than it saved.

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Updates

  1. Confirmed Confirmed. On Friday Hansi Flick ruled Raphinha out of Barcelona's next two games, Getafe on Saturday and Galatasaray in the Champions League. “Raphinha does not have an injury… but we have to be careful because last year he had three injuries as we need to take care of him,” Flick said, and: “He won't be available tomorrow or against Galatasaray” (via Fabrizio Romano). Mundo Deportivo's report was right, and it went further than a rest on the bench. Our take stands: we still expect Barcelona to beat Getafe, and the number we watch is the score at half-time.
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