Barcelona Head to Galatasaray Without Raphinha Despite Nine-Game Winning Run
Barcelona will travel to Galatasaray for their Champions League tie without captain Raphinha, removing a forward who has scored 14 times in eight appearances from Hansi Flick’s attacking options.
The Brazilian’s absence comes as Barcelona carry major momentum into Istanbul. Flick’s side beat Getafe 3-0 in their latest match, extending their winning streak to nine games in all competitions.
Barcelona have scored 39 goals and let in only eight so far this season, an average of 4.3 goals per match. President Joan Laporta believes that form puts the club at the top of the European game, while recognising Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich as fellow contenders for major honours.
Laporta also highlighted the work between Flick and sporting director Deco, pointing to competition for places and a strong dressing-room mood. He said every player is pushing to improve on those selected ahead of them, with the squad arriving for the European fixture highly motivated after an intense training session.
Who is affected
- Raphinha: Barcelona’s captain is unavailable for the trip despite his return of 14 goals in eight outings.
- Hansi Flick: The Barcelona coach must reshape his frontline for a demanding away Champions League match.
- Galatasaray: Okan Buruk’s team host Barcelona carrying just one win from their last 22 European meetings with Spanish opponents.
What happens next
Barcelona now head to Galatasaray seeking to preserve a formidable record against Turkish teams away from home. They have won each of their previous four such trips and have not lost in nine meetings with Turkish opposition.
The Champions League contest will test whether Flick’s in-form squad can maintain its nine-match winning run without its leading scorer.
