Raphinha don finally land Barcelona again after im injury wahala. The Brazilian winger, wey get hamstring injury for im right leg, return to the city on Monday from Porto Alegre. Im recovery time dey estimated to be five to six weeks, but im don show say e dey determined to bounce back quick quick.
Hansi Flick, Barcelona coach, send Raphinha go house to stay with im family for Brazil after the emotional setback wey im get during the France-Brazil match for Boston. For there, im dey spend time with dem while im still dey train under im trusted physical coaches. The idea na to make im recharge before the big matches wey dey ahead, including the World Cup.
Even though Raphinha no fit play for now, neither im nor Flick want make im miss the dressing room vibes. Im go dey Camp Nou this Wednesday as Barcelona go face Atlético Madrid for the first leg of the Champions League quarter-finals. Im presence go serve as moral support for the squad, especially as the team dey miss some key players.
Security for im arrival tight well well, and Raphinha no talk to press. E no go play against Atlético this Wednesday, but barring any sudden problem, im go dey at the stadium and even travel to Madrid next week for the second leg. The player, wey be like extension of Flick for pitch, still dey dream of playing for the final wey slip away from am last season for Milan, where im score the 2-3 against Inter almost at the death.
Raphinha go continue im recovery for Barcelona, but im don already indicate say im expect to return sooner than many people think. Meanwhile, Barcelona go lock horns with Atletico Madrid for the Champions League quarter-final first leg this Wednesday at the Spotify Camp Nou. This na the fifth meeting between the two teams for all competitions, with Barcelona don win four of those – the latest one come this past weekend for La Liga.
Barcelona go enter the game without four players. Aside Raphinha, Marc Bernal and Andreas Christensen dey injured, while Frenkie de Jong still no ready to return. On top that, four Barcelona players dey just one yellow card away from suspension for the match against Atletico Madrid. Lamine Yamal, Fermin Lopez, Gerard Martin, and Marc Casado all dey one caution away from earning automatic one-match suspension for accumulation of cards for Champions League.
Lamine don already serve suspension for Europe this season. The 18-year-old winger go sure start for Barcelona against Diego Simeone men, along with Fermin and Martin, while Casado likely to feature from bench. For a time when the team already dey without important players like Raphinha, to lose person like Lamine, Fermin, or Martin for the second leg go be major blow. So the players must keep their discipline against the Colchoneros.
E worth to note say yellow cards for Champions League dey cleared from the semi-finals onward, meaning players must navigate the next couple of matches carefully to avoid missing crucial games. Barcelona hold training today, Monday, for the Joan Gamper Sports Complex, in preparation for Wednesday match. Dem go return to training tomorrow, Tuesday, for their final session before hosting Atlético Madrid, and manager Hansi Flick and João Cancelo go appear for press conference.
Newspaper “Mundo Deportivo” report say Barcelona train without Frenkie de Jong, as the Dutch midfielder dey the final stages of recovery from injury to im right hamstring. De Jong sustain the injury during training on 26 February, and the club estimate im recovery period at five to six weeks. Next Thursday, immediately after the match against Atlético Madrid, im recovery period go over, and Hansi Flick and im coaching staff dey confident say De Jong go fit for the Espanyol match.
The club aim to give Frenkie some playing time for the Espanyol derby, as well as for the decisive Champions League second leg against Atlético Madrid at Wembley Stadium, scheduled for Tuesday 14 April. Also absent from training na the injured Marc Bernat, wey suffer sprain to im left ankle for the previous match against Atlético, and Andreas Christensen, wey still dey recover from partial tear of the anterior cruciate ligament for im left knee.
Meanwhile, Ronald Araújo train with im teammates after being substituted on Saturday at the Wanda Metropolitano. The Uruguayan defender bin dey suffer from slight muscle strain for im left thigh, but im go fit to play for the first leg of the Champions League quarter-final. To complete the training session, Flick call up players from the reserve team: Tommy Marquez, Alvaro Cortes, Xavi Espart and Diego Cuchen.
Brazilian Raphinha also arrive at the training ground, having travelled from im home country to the Blaugrana training facilities to continue im recovery from biceps femoris injury for im right leg. The whole team dey focus on the big match ahead, with hopes high for a positive result.
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