With a little over 48 hours left before the first El Clasico of the 2025/26 season, FC Barcelona are dealing with multiple fitness concerns.
Earlier today, it was reported that Jules Kounde was a doubt for the game against Real Madrid after missing two consecutive training sessions due to a knock.
Raphinha’s presence up in the air
Now, it is Raphinha whose availability for the trip to the Spanish capital has been cast under clouds of uncertainty.
Indeed, according to SPORT, Raphinha did not participate in Friday’s training session with the squad and in what comes as a step back in his recovery from a right hamstring injury sustained at the end of September.
The winger even left the Ciutat Esportiva even before his teammates went to train. As such, the Barcelona captain’s availability for El Clasico is now up in the air.
Raphinha had been out of action since late September after suffering a hamstring injury against Real Oviedo. However, he had resumed training this week and was expected to be given the green light for Sunday’s blockbuster clash.
He was unlikely to start even if he had completed today’s and tomorrow’s sessions normally, given that he has been out of action for exactly one month.
But the fact that Raphinha did not train with the rest of Hansi Flick’s team in their penultimate session casts serious doubt on his participation in the match.
There is some positive news for Barcelona, though, as Frenkie de Jong trained as normal this morning.
The Dutch midfielder was the first player to arrive at the training ground and has fully recovered from the bout of gastroenteritis that prevented him from joining the group yesterday.
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