Barcelona fear Raphinha lay-off after Brazil star limps off against Australia

Barcelona's worst fears about the international break appear to have come true. Raphinha, the outstanding player of their season so far, was forced off with muscular discomfort early in the second half of Brazil's match against Australia, and the Catalan club now face an anxious wait to learn how long their star will be sidelined.

A risk Barcelona saw coming

This was not a bolt from the blue. Barcelona had been paying Raphinha special attention precisely because of his exceptional level this season and the gruelling schedule Brazil had arranged for him — matches in Australia and India, plus the long travel hours and physical exhaustion that come with them. Reports before the break noted that the winger had returned from each of his previous call-ups carrying physical problems.

The numbers explain the anxiety. Raphinha has scored 14 goals in his first eight matches of the campaign, making him one of the most influential players in Europe. Hansi Flick had admitted before the break that watching his players leave for national-team duty worried him, saying he tries to deal with it positively and trust the national teams' technical staffs. That trust is being tested again.

A familiar pattern

There is precedent, and it is not reassuring. In March, Raphinha suffered a muscular injury against France, left the Brazil camp early and spent five weeks on the sidelines. Until Barcelona's medical staff complete their assessment, the club will fear a similar gap — at the start of a run that includes the return of LaLiga against Getafe and a Champions League meeting with Galatasaray, a fixture already dominated by talk of his fitness.

Barcelona have the squad depth to survive a short absence; what they cannot easily replace is the player driving their best starts. All eyes now turn to the medical bulletins due when Raphinha returns to Catalonia.