Despite Barcelona defeating Atletico Madrid in the second leg of their Champions League quarter-final, their elimination on aggregate has once again raised questions about how the team has managed without Raphinha.

During Xavi’s time in charge, it once appeared likely that the former Leeds United winger could be sold, having often been limited to appearances of around an hour in many matches.

A revival under Hansi Flick

However, Raphinha’s situation has changed dramatically since Hansi Flick took over as head coach.

The Brazilian has enjoyed a resurgence, embracing a leadership role within the squad as one of the team’s captains. Whether wearing the armband or not, his influence and responsibility on the pitch have stood out as one of the defining positives of Flick’s tenure so far.

Although his form has dipped slightly in the 2025/26 season compared to the previous campaign, Raphinha has still delivered strong numbers, registering 19 goals and seven assists across all competitions.

However, his latest setback — a third thigh injury since August — has once again coincided with a downturn in Barcelona’s results. Most notably, Atletico Madrid secured a 2-0 victory at Camp Nou, their first win at the stadium in two decades.

Barcelona struggle without Raphinha

Atletico had also taken advantage during Raphinha’s previous absence, thrashing Barcelona 4-0 in the first leg of their Copa del Rey semi-final.

While Barcelona have managed some wins without him — including a comfortable victory over an out-of-form Espanyol side and a cup success at Albacete — those results offer limited insight given the level of opposition.

A clearer indication of Raphinha’s importance came earlier in the season during a nine-match spell in which he was sidelined across all competitions.

During that period, Barcelona suffered a 4-1 defeat to Sevilla, a 2-1 loss to Real Madrid in El Clasico, and were held to a 3-3 draw by Club Brugge in the Champions League.

Barcelona feel Raphinha’s absence in big games

Although wins against Girona, Elche and Olympiacos were largely expected, a noticeable trend has emerged when Raphinha is missing.

In high-profile matches this season, Barcelona have struggled to perform at their usual level without him — despite the exception of Tuesday’s second-leg result.

Marcus Rashford has largely stepped in during the Brazilian’s absence and has delivered impressive numbers in his first season at the club, especially considering his somewhat limited role at times.

However, despite his strong contributions, the England international has not quite matched Raphinha’s overall influence.

Strong output despite injuries

Raphinha’s relentless energy sets him apart — he presses tirelessly and treats every ball as worth chasing.

Even with his injury setbacks in the 2025/26 campaign, his goal and assist tally is surpassed only by Lamine Yamal, who has featured in 12 more matches and accumulated roughly 1,500 additional minutes this season.

Raphinha has delivered 57 crosses from open play this season, second only to Lamine Yamal, with a 30.4% success rate — only slightly behind Jules Kounde and Joao Cancelo.

In terms of creativity, only Fermin Lopez and Lamine have produced more than his 18 big chances, while Marcus Rashford is the only player to have surpassed Raphinha’s 17 chances created from set-pieces.

Defensively, his 50% tackle success rate — winning 14 of his 28 attempts — is reasonable for a player not primarily tasked with defensive duties. The same applies to his contributions of 15 clearances and eight interceptions.

A role model for younger players

One area for improvement, however, is his passing accuracy.

A completion rate of 80.7% may seem solid at first glance, but only Ferran Torres and Robert Lewandowski record lower figures in this aspect.

Even so, there is little doubt that Raphinha remains a key figure in Hansi Flick’s tactical setup and overall approach at Barcelona.

Leading the press from the front by relentlessly closing down opponents, while also delivering dynamic play out wide, has become a key requirement in the team’s approach.

Raphinha’s confidence, intensity and attacking flair bring a unique edge to Barcelona, while his growth into a senior figure within the squad has only strengthened his influence. His attitude and commitment in every match have made him a valued presence among teammates, coaches and supporters alike.

Considering how unsettled Atletico Madrid looked in the opening stages of that Champions League second leg, it’s easy to imagine how much Raphinha could have exploited the space down the left flank.

That match arguably stood out as one of Barcelona’s strongest displays of the season, suggesting they are capable of managing without the Brazilian. However, with him in the side, they may well have progressed to a semi-final against Arsenal or Sporting instead of Atletico.

The Blaugrana still hold a nine-point lead in LaLiga, but the sooner their number 11 returns for the run-in, the better their chances of maintaining that advantage and finishing the campaign strongly.