How Rafinha's Absence Affected Barcelona's Performance

Spanish newspaper "Mundo Deportivo" reported that Barcelona is suffering from the absence of Brazilian star Rafinha due to an injury in the middle part of the hamstring of his right thigh, which has clearly affected the team's performance in recent matches.

The newspaper pointed out that the team missed a leadership presence on the field during the match against Sevilla, following the departure of Inigo Martinez to the Saudi league, as Rafinha has been absent for three matches, two of which Barcelona lost to Paris Saint-Germain and Sevilla.

The report highlighted that Rafinha's performance under coach Hans Flick was remarkable, as he participated in 57 matches out of 60 played by the team in the 2024/2025 season, scoring or assisting goals in 34 matches including the Champions League, La Liga, the Copa del Rey, and the Spanish Super Cup.

He also scored 34 goals and provided 26 assists last season, while he has so far scored 3 goals and assisted 2 this season.

The newspaper clarified that Rafinha plays an important leadership role within the locker room, as he instills enthusiasm and organization among his teammates, quoting someone close to the team saying: "When Rafinha wears the captain's armband, everyone notices his impact on the players," reflecting his importance to the team on both technical and leadership levels.