Barcelona's form collapse shows how much they miss captain's firepower and fight | Barca Universal

"When Raphinha was fit, Barça looked like genuine contenders. With him involved, the team recorded seven wins and one draw from eight matches in La Liga and the Champions League, losing just two points in total. They were scoring freely as well - 21 goals, with Raphinha himself contributing three goals and two assists - and conceding only five. The contrast since his injury has been stark, as though the team's spark went missing with him."

"Without Raphinha, Barcelona's numbers have nosedived. From those six games, they have managed only nine points out of a possible 18, a success rate of just 50% compared to 87.5% with the Brazilian on the field. Defensively, the situation is even more worrying. The Blaugrana have s hipped 11 goals, an average of almost two per match, while scoring 13, and it is worth noting that six of those goals came in a single game against Olympiacos."

"Raphinha's impact cannot be measured by numbers alone. His relentless pressing, constant running, and determination to win the ball high up the pitch are vital to Flick's system, which relies on energy and discipline from the front line. When Raphinha plays, Barcelona defend better because he forces opponents into mistakes before they can settle. His aggression sets the tempo, and without it, the team often looks passive and predictable."

It has been more than a month since Raphinha last played for Barcelona after he left the field injured following 65 minutes against Real Oviedo in late September. Barcelona's rhythm has faltered in the six matches without him, with three defeats and a noticeable drop in sharpness. With Raphinha earlier, Barcelona won seven and drew one of eight matches, scoring 21 goals (Raphinha three goals, two assists) and conceding five. Without him they collected nine of 18 points (50% versus 87.5%), conceded 11 goals while scoring 13, including six conceded against Olympiacos. Raphinha's pressing, running and aggression are central to Flick's system, and his return is scheduled after the November international break with a potential comeback pencilled in for the La Liga restart.

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