Barcelona suffered a severe defeat to Atlético Madrid with a clean four-nil in the first leg of the Copa del Rey semifinal, in a match where Raphinha was absent, revealing a shocking and concerning statistic for the Catalan club's fans.
It seems that the Brazilian winger has become the real "thermometer" for the team under the German coach Hansi Flick.
As stumbles recur, a shocking statistic emerged that causes concern among the "Blaugrana" fans: Raphinha's 6 absences led to 6 significant defeats or setbacks for Barça.
Raphinha played 22 matches this season, contributing to 18 goals, scoring 13 times along with 5 decisive assists.
6 Absences of Raphinha = 6 Defeats for Barcelona This Season
• Raphinha was absent during the defeat (2-1) against Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League.
• He missed the defeat against Sevilla (4-1).
• He missed the defeat against Real Madrid (2-1).
• He missed the defeat against Real Sociedad (2-1).
• Raphinha played for a few minutes against Chelsea, when Barcelona was already losing 3-0 in the Champions League.
• Barcelona suffered a harsh defeat against Atlético Madrid by four goals in the absence of the Brazilian star Raphinha.
Raphinha's Absence Exposes Barcelona's Fragility Under Hansi Flick's Leadership
Technical data for Barcelona this season points to a strange paradox; while the team overwhelms its opponents with Raphinha on the field, they turn into a "fragile" and lost team as soon as he is out of the starting lineup or absent due to injury or suspension.
• The numbers reveal a catastrophic impact of his absence from the starting lineup; in 6 crucial matches where he participated as a substitute or was completely absent, Barcelona experienced the bitterness of defeat or stumbled in decisive points, which confirms that the system entirely loses its offensive and defensive balance in his absence.
• Barcelona's win rate this season with Raphinha: 91%.
• Barcelona's win rate this season without Raphinha: 60%.
• Goal contribution: Raphinha is not just a goal scorer, but is also the player who creates the most clear chances in the Spanish league and the Champions League this season.
Raphinha's Absence Disrupts Barcelona's System
Analysts believe Hansi Flick's system relies on "high intense pressure" and "quick transitions," traits that Raphinha embodies perfectly.
• The prime defender: Raphinha is the forward in Europe who most frequently regains the ball in the final third of the field, his absence gives the opponent ease in building play.
• Tactical flexibility: His ability to play as a playmaker (number 10) or a true winger makes marking him impossible, and his substitutes like Ferran Torres lack this comprehensive mobility.
• Personality and leadership: Amid the youth of "La Masia" talents, Raphinha plays the role of the "psychological leader" who motivates his teammates in tough moments.
Barcelona's six defeats in Raphinha's absence demonstrate that the team suffers from a huge "quality gap" between the starting lineup and the reserves. If the Catalan club wants to compete for major titles, it must find a solution to this dependency.
