November 8
Flick’s Most Dangerous Weapon
Raphinha heads into the clash against Atlético Madrid in one of the most prolific scoring spells of his career. Having established himself as one of Barcelona’s primary attacking weapons, he arrives at the Cívitas Metropolitano with exceptional statistics: 15 goals in La Liga and 4 in the Champions League, totaling 19 goals across just 13 official matches.
Raphinha has netted a brace in each of his last two outings—against Alavés and Aston Villa—and has now scored in three consecutive matches, a streak that includes a goal in the Clásico at the Spotify Camp Nou.
These figures confirm that the Brazilian star has returned to his clinical best, having fully recovered from a minor injury sustained while on international duty with Brazil, and is now back at peak physical fitness.
On the pitch, Raphinha has been a standout presence inside the penalty area, characterized by his relentless movement, powerful play, and constant high-intensity pressing.
Atlético Madrid manager Diego Simeone is well-acquainted with Raphinha’s capabilities; the Argentine coach has frequently expressed his deep admiration for the Brazilian, even going so far as to label him one of the best players in the world.
Following Barcelona’s 3-1 victory over Atlético at the Spotify Camp Nou last season, Simeone remarked: "I don’t know how Raphinha hasn’t won the Ballon d’Or yet—he’s my pick to win it." The Argentine coach added: "I like him a lot; he excels in every position he is asked to play, and he scores fantastic goals."
Raphinha possesses all the qualities that Simeone values: he is strong, competitive, and tenacious—a player who works for the team and has the ability to decide the outcome of a match.
Continuing his thoughts on the Brazilian star, Simeone said: "I really like him because, every time he plays, he is a joy to watch—whether it’s his movement, his runs to break free from markers, how he exploits open space, or his contribution to the team’s collective effort."
The admiration is mutual; Raphinha also holds the Argentine coach in high regard, stating: "I have a great deal of affection for 'Cholo' [Simeone]; he is an incredible coach, and I respect him a lot."
Raphinha’s record against Atlético Madrid is impressive: in 10 matches against them, he has been directly involved in 8 goals—scoring twice and providing 6 assists.
It is impossible to know how the Champions League quarter-final tie between the two sides last season might have unfolded had the Brazilian star been able to play; however, he missed the encounter due to a thigh injury.
Furthermore, muscular issues prevented Raphinha from participating in the first leg of the Copa del Rey semi-final—a match that ended in a crushing 4-0 defeat for Barcelona—as well as the La Liga fixture in which Hansi Flick’s side secured a 2-1 victory over Atlético Madrid at the Metropolitano Stadium. Raphinha also heads into the highly anticipated clash against Atlético Madrid in high spirits, following the announcement of his contract extension with Barcelona until June 30, 2030—a move that confirms the Catalan side’s captain is a key pillar in Hansi Flick’s project for the coming years.
