Champions League: Raphinha to miss Barcelona's match against Galatasaray too

Barcelona captain and Brazilian forward Raphinha will not play in Tuesday's Champions League match against Galatasaray.

Coach Hansi Flick decided not to include him in the squad after assessing his physical condition. Raphinha had also not taken the field in the previous match against Getafe. He had suffered muscle problems twice before while trying to return quickly from injury, and Flick and Raphinha have therefore agreed not to take unnecessary risks this time.

Given the busy schedule ahead, the club has prioritized his long-term fitness over the immediate match. Having Raphinha fully fit in time for the El Clasico against Real Madrid on October 25 appears to be the club's main goal. Frenkie de Jong, Andreas Christensen and Roony Bardghji will also be unavailable against Galatasaray.