During the international break, Barcelona faced two significant challenges: Raphinha suffered a muscle injury in Brazil's friendly against France and will be sidelined for around five weeks due to a hamstring issue. Meanwhile, Barcelona's forward Robert Lewandowski experienced defeat with Poland in the World Cup 2026 playoff, playing two full matches.
Fifteen Barça players participated in their national teams' matches, many logging heavy minutes. The most utilized player was young midfielder Xavi Espart with 257 minutes in Spain's U19 team, while Lewandowski followed closely with 180 minutes. Other players like Ronald Araujo, Marc Bernal, and Lamine Yamal also had significant game time, with Spanish internationals Ferran Torres, Pedri, and Dani Olmo each playing 90 minutes across two fixtures.
The high workload and Raphinha’s absence raise concerns about the squad’s physical condition ahead of an important away match against Atlético Madrid. Barcelona aims to reclaim the La Liga lead, and maintaining the fitness of key players will be crucial for the season's closing stages.
Given the extensive minutes played and the long-term injury to Raphinha, Barça will need to manage player recovery carefully. This approach is vital to preserve competitiveness and avoid further setbacks before decisive league matches.
