Barcelona Braced for Clasico Blow as Rafinha’s Fitness Scramble Looms

Rafinha's Injury Status

Questions linger over the Brazilian winger Rafinha's availability for Barcelona's trip to Real Madrid in the El Clasico, the marquee fixture of the tenth La Liga round at the Santiago Bernabéu.

Rafinha has missed the last five Barca matches, two in the Champions League and three in La Liga, and although expectations pointed to a return for the Clasico, latest updates lean toward a lingering issue.

According to Mundo Deportivo and journalist Gerard Romero, Rafinha will likely miss the clash, and Barca, after consulting club sources, are not overly optimistic about his participation.

He has been sidelined by a right hamstring strain, and current signals suggest he won't feature in the sixth Clasico against Real Madrid.

Rafinha has been with Barcelona since arriving from Leeds United in the summer of 2022 for €58 million, and he has appeared in 151 Barca games across all competitions, contributing to 110 goal involvements (57 goals, 53 assists) in 10,010 minutes.

This season, Rafinha has played seven matches, six in La Liga, scoring three goals and providing two assists. He did play in a Champions League match against Newcastle United but did not score.

Conde's Fitness and Team News

Regarding defender Jules Koundé, Barca’s camp feels more comfortable about his condition. The report notes that the Frenchman trained in the gym today due to a minor injury, and if coach Hansi Flick asks him to start against the Merengues, he will be ready and willing to help the team.

There were also notes that Christensen and Frenkie de Jong have had stomach issues, but both have recovered, and barring a relapse they should be available for the Madrid showdown.

Pre-Clasico Round-Up

Heading into the Clasico, Barcelona have played nine La Liga games, recording seven wins, one draw, and one defeat. A 1-1 draw with Rayo Vallecano and a heavy 1-4 loss to Sevilla punctuated their recent run before bouncing back.

Real Madrid have played the same number of league games, with eight wins and one defeat, the defeat coming in a 2-5 hammering at city rivals Atletico Madrid.

Barça sit on 22 points, second in the table, two points behind Madrid, who reclaimed the summit with a 1-0 win over Getafe, setting the scene for a gripping Clasico.

The Clasico Narrative

The 2024-2025 Clasico season has been challenging for Real Madrid, who have struggled to beat Barca in key clashes across competitions. Last season, Barca ran riot in the league with a 4-0 win as Hansi Flick’s setup clicked, with Lewandowski scoring twice and Lamine Yamal and Rafinha adding the other goals in the second half.

In the Spanish Super Cup, Barcelona again asserted control with a 5-2 victory, despite an early Mbappé strike for Madrid. In the Copa del Rey final on April 26, 2025, Madrid led 2-1 before Ferran Torres struck to level, and Jules Conde netted a decisive goal late on to seal Barca’s triumph.

The league clash at the Camp Nou later in the season looked similarly dramatic, with Madrid taking a 2-0 lead only for Barcelona to stage a late comeback and win 4-3, completing a remarkable turnaround.

Punchline time: In football, the only thing sharper than Rafinha’s streaks might be the medical reports—they cut quicker than this season’s headlines. Punchline 2: If injuries had a transfer window, Rafinha’s would be forever in the “pending” column, yet the Clasico still promises fireworks.