Barcelona have suffered a huge setback ahead of this weekend’s highly anticipated El Clásico clash against Real Madrid, as star winger Raphinha has officially been ruled out due to a hamstring problem.

The Brazilian, who had been working hard on his recovery, suffered a setback during training and will now miss the showdown at the Santiago Bernabéu. Raphinha had been sidelined for nearly a month and was initially expected to return in time for the game.

Despite resuming training earlier this week, he reportedly experienced discomfort in his hamstring and was forced to stop. He did not take part in Barcelona’s final training session on Friday, confirming fears that he would not be fit to feature against Real Madrid.

This development comes as a major blow to Hansi Flick’s side, which is already dealing with several injury concerns. Raphinha’s creativity, pace, and attacking flair have been vital to Barcelona’s offensive setup, and his absence leaves a significant gap on the right flank.

Payers like Ferran Torres, Lamine Yamal, or Roony Bardghji could be called upon to step up in the high-pressure encounter. The Brazilian’s recovery will continue under medical supervision, with reports suggesting he could face a longer spell on the sidelines if it turns out to be a relapse rather than a minor setback.

Barcelona will now travel to Madrid knowing they must find inspiration from elsewhere with Raphinha ruled out of the clash.

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