The Spanish newspaper "Mundo Deportivo" revealed that the injury of Brazilian star Raphinha is a significant factor ahead of the upcoming matches between Barcelona and Atletico Madrid in the league and the Champions League, as the player will miss three consecutive games, thereby easing the pressure on the Madrid team's coach, Diego Simeone.

Simeone had previously expressed great admiration for Raphinha, stating after his team's loss to Barcelona that he sees him as deserving of the Ballon d'Or. He praised Raphinha's ability to play in multiple positions and score remarkable goals, reflecting his high regard for the Brazilian player's capabilities.

The newspaper explained that Raphinha's absence gives Atlético Madrid a morale boost ahead of the crucial matches, especially given his significant impact in the teams' games, having scored two goals and provided six assists in 10 previous encounters against the Madrid team.

The report also reviewed the last encounter between Simeone and Raphinha, when the Atletico coach consoled the player after the King's Cup semi-final match, which ended with Barcelona's victory, despite Atletico advancing to the final benefiting from the first-leg result.

For his part, Raphinha previously expressed his appreciation for Simeone, affirming his great respect for him, in a mutual relationship of admiration between the two parties. However, the absence of the Brazilian star from the upcoming matches may grant Atletico Madrid a significant competitive advantage.