Report – Reason behind Barcelona in-form attacker’s absence from squad for Barbastro clash | OneFootball

FC Barcelona announced the squad list for their first game of 2025 as they get set to take on UD Barbastro away from home in the Copa del Rey later tonight.

There were a number of notable absences from the squad list released by manager Hansi Flick.

Ferran Torres, Marc Bernal, and Marc-Andre ter Stegen are out injured, while Lamine Yamal and Andreas Christensen have just returned to training after injury layoffs and Barça have decided against rushing them back.

Dani Olmo and Pau Victor, on the other hand, are left out because they are yet to be re-registered.

The other big omission happens to be in-form winger and one of the team captains Raphinha.

Reason why Raphinha is left out

Providing an update on why Raphinha is not part of the squad that will travel to face Barbastro tonight, journalist Adria Albets claims that the decision was made by Hansi Flick to rest the Brazilian international.

Rested for tonight’s game. (Photo by Fran Santiago/Getty Images)

The decision is very much understandable considering that Raphinha has been one of the players who has been an ever-present figure in the team and has barely had any rest.

Furthermore, with Barça set to take on Athletic Club in the Spanish Super Cup semi-finals, Flick would want his in-form player at his best.

So far in 2024/25, Raphinha has played 25 matches for Barcelona, clocking 2064 minutes in total across all competitions, in which he has scored 17 goals and set up ten more.

With the Brazilian not involved tonight and the likes of Lamine, Pau Victor, and Ferran also unavailable, there could be a starting berth for Ansu Fati, who has been waiting for his chance since returning from injury last month.

La Masia gem Toni Fernandez could also get some minutes given the notable absences in the attacking unit.