Blitz Bureau
NEW DELHI: FC Barcelona’s La Liga and UEFA Champions League title hopes have suffered a big setback after Raphinha suffered a hamstring injury while on international duty for Brazil, playing in a pre-World Cup friendly. The Brazilian Football Confederation confirmed on Friday that Raphinha suffered the injury in his right hamstring during the 2-1 defeat to France in a friendly. The forward will leave the Brazilian squad to return to Barcelona for treatment, reports Xinhua.
This is the second time Raphinha has suffered a right hamstring injury this season, having missed almost two months earlier in the campaign. Barcelona play away to Atletico Madrid in La Liga on April 4, before hosting Diego Simeone’s side in the first leg of their Champions League quarterfinal four days later.
After that, Barcelona will host Espanyol in a La Liga derby on April 11 and travel to the Metropolitano Stadium for the Champions League second leg on April 14.
Raphinha has scored 14 goals and given six assists in 27 appearances in La Liga and the Champions League this season. Earlier, FC Barcelona and Real Madrid both edged to narrow wins before the international break to keep the title race alive in the La Liga 2025-26 season. Barcelona defeated Rayo Vallecano 1-0 while Real Madrid edged archrivals Atletico Madrid 3-2 in a hard-fought Madrid Derby.
