FC Barcelona’s Champions League ambitions have suffered a severe setback as star winger Raphinha has been ruled out of action for at least five weeks. The Brazilian international sustained a right hamstring injury during the friendly match against France last Thursday. While the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) initially remained tight-lipped, Barcelona officially confirmed on Sunday that the recovery process will take over a month.

This injury comes at a devastating time for the Catalan giants as they prepare for a high-stakes Champions League quarter-final tie against Atletico Madrid. Raphinha, who has been in sensational form this season with 19 goals across all competitions, will miss both legs of the crucial European encounter scheduled for April. Additionally, he will be unavailable for several key La Liga fixtures against opponents like Espanyol and Getafe.

Head coach Hansi Flick now faces a tactical dilemma in the absence of his most decisive attacker. The club’s medical statement clarified that Raphinha has already returned to Barcelona to begin intensive treatment. The medical team is aiming for a potential return just before the high-voltage El Clásico in May, but for now, Barcelona must navigate their toughest stretch of the season without their primary offensive engine.