Barcelona forward Raphinha will miss his side’s UEFA Champions League quarter-final ties against Atletico Madrid after sustaining a hamstring injury while on international duty with Brazil.
The 27-year-old picked up the injury during Brazil’s 2-1 friendly defeat to France. Barcelona later confirmed that he is expected to be sidelined for at least five weeks.
The setback comes at a crucial point in the season for the Spanish club. Barcelona are preparing for a demanding run of fixtures both domestically and in Europe, with little room for error.
Raphinha had been in strong form prior to the injury.
He scored twice in the second leg of Barcelona’s dominant aggregate victory over Newcastle United in the previous round, helping secure their place in the quarter-finals.
Barcelona are set to face Atletico Madrid over two legs on April 9 and April 15, but Raphinha will not be available for either match.
He is also expected to miss several important LaLiga fixtures as Barcelona continue their push at the top of the table.
Should Barcelona progress past Atletico Madrid, Raphinha will face a race against time to recover in time for a potential semi-final clash.
The next round could see the Spanish side take on either Sporting CP or Arsenal, with the first leg scheduled for the week beginning April 17.
The Brazilian’s absence represents a significant blow to Barcelona’s attacking options as they look to maintain momentum in multiple competitions.
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