Raphinha in doubt for Getafe clash after bruise picked up with Brazil

With two days to go before the Getafe match, Hansi Flick still can't mark Raphinha down as available. The Brazilian continues training apart from the group, and that's starting to raise some concern at Barcelona, though for now there's no medical reason that fully justifies it.

The scare came on September 29, in the friendly where Brazil beat Australia 4-2. Raphinha had to come off early with a bruise on his right leg, the same area where he'd already suffered two injuries last season. You don't need to be a doctor to understand why the club went on alert as soon as they saw the images.

Follow-up tests ruled out any injury, which is a relief. But Barcelona sources tell ESPN that his availability for Saturday's game against Getafe is a real question mark. The test that will settle things comes Friday: that's when it'll become clear whether Raphinha makes the squad or ends up watching from the sidelines again. Flick, according to those same sources, would rather err on the side of caution than risk a player who already knows all too well how these kinds of issues can play out.

And this isn't just any player in doubt. Playing as a center forward, Raphinha has put together a spectacular start to the season: thirteen goals across all competitions and an influence on the team that goes well beyond the stat sheet. The former Leeds winger has become a leadership figure for his teammates, and his absence is felt.

This will be Barça's first match since the 3-1 win over Sevilla on September 19, a game in which Raphinha, fittingly, scored a hat trick. Since then, Flick has had to make do without several internationals, but by Thursday he finally had the full squad back in training. The last to rejoin were Lamine Yamal, Pau Cubarsí, Fermín López, Pedri, Dani Olmo, Rodri, Anthony Gordon and Dominik Livaković, who were returning from duty with Spain, England and Croatia.

Flick will offer more details on Raphinha's condition at his Friday press conference, right before a demanding month of October for Barcelona, with Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid already looming on the schedule. There's nothing better heading into those games than having your in-form forward at one hundred percent, though that's still far from guaranteed.