BARCELONA, OCT 18 – Brazilian winger Raphinha has continued to impress for Barcelona this season, and the Catalan giants are now increasingly relying on their star ahead of what is considered to be a defining week of the season.
Hansi Flick’s side, who are currently leading La Liga, will face Sevilla on Sunday, before taking on Champions League action against Bayern Munich on Wednesday, followed by an El Clasico against arch-rivals Real Madrid next Saturday.
Meanwhile, Real Madrid are scheduled to meet Celta Vigo after giving support to their main star, Kylian Mbappe.
Mbappe is currently being investigated for alleged rape during his visit to Stockholm, according to Swedish media reports. An internal source of the club, who did not want to be identified, told AFP that the accusation against the French player was described as ‘the biggest forgery in the history of sport.’
Despite the challenges that await Barcelona, Raphinha is currently the only key player in the club’s attacking line to remain fit. Main striker Robert Lewandowski was sidelined after picking up an injury during Poland’s Nations League draw with Croatia. In addition, the sensational teenage player, Lamine Yamal, was confirmed to have a minor hamstring injury.
Ferran Torres was forced to rest for several weeks due to a thigh injury, while the creative midfielder, Dani Olmo, is still in the process of recovering from a hamstring problem. – AFP
