Barcelona Star Raphinha Sidelined: The Real Reason Behind His Mallorca Absence
Barcelona faces Mallorca this Saturday afternoon, but they must secure victory without key winger Raphinha, who has been crucial to the club's domestic campaign this season.
The beginning of 2026 has treated Barcelona well, as they've already captured their initial trophy of the campaign by winning the Spanish Super Cup. Additional strong performances have secured the Catalans a spot in the Champions League knockout phase and Copa del Rey final four.
This excellent form carries over to La Liga, where Hansi Flick's squad has claimed victory in 11 of their past 12 matches. However, they maintain just a single point advantage over arch-rivals Real Madrid at the summit, making any slip-up against Mallorca potentially damaging.
While Pedri continues recovering from his hamstring problem, Barcelona will also miss Raphinha versus Mallorca, a player who has been vital during their impressive recent league form.
Why Is Raphinha Not Playing Against Mallorca?
Why Is Raphinha Not Playing Against Mallorca?
Raphinha will be absent from Saturday's clash with Mallorca due to an adductor muscle injury he sustained the previous week. The Brazilian winger had to be substituted during the first half of Barcelona's victory over Elche in their last La Liga outing, causing concern about his condition.
Earlier this week, Barcelona officially confirmed the injury assessment and Raphinha was ruled out of the midweek journey to Albacete, where the Catalans secured their Copa del Rey semifinal berth.
This represents a significant setback for Barcelona, particularly given their perfect La Liga record when Raphinha participates this season. In contrast, Barça's two latest league losses, against Real Sociedad and October's Clásico versus Real Madrid, occurred when the Brazilian was sidelined with injuries.
Barcelona should manage to overcome a weaker Mallorca team that hasn't triumphed at Camp Nou since 2008, but with crucial fixtures approaching, the club cannot afford to be without their influential star for much longer.
When Will Raphinha Return for Barcelona?
When Will Raphinha Return for Barcelona?
Thankfully for Barcelona, the club has indicated Raphinha is anticipated to miss just one week of competition. Nevertheless, the 29-year-old has not yet returned to team training following his injury, and Barcelona has a crucial match on the horizon.
Barcelona will travel to Atlético Madrid for the opening leg of the Copa del Rey semifinals on Feb. 12. If everything proceeds according to schedule, Raphinha should be completely fit to participate in that encounter, though Flick emphasizes the club must "remain patient and approach [Raphinha's recovery] gradually."
Should Barcelona determine that Raphinha isn't prepared to return for next week's journey to the Spanish capital, he will likely be back to complete fitness when Barcelona makes the brief trip to Girona on Monday, Feb. 16 for their upcoming La Liga fixture.