Raphinha continues to lead FC Barcelona in 2024/25. Whether in comfortable matches, where the team imposes itself with authority, or in difficult duels, where ideas do not flow and the ghosts in defence reappear, the Brazilian does not fail in his role: generating and taking advantage of goal-scoring opportunities.
Against Celta (2-2), the '11' did his homework to lead a victory that, unfortunately, slipped away in the final stretch due to errors at the back. Rapha once again wore the captain's armband in Balaídos and opened the scoring in the 15th minute, when the team led by Hansi Flick was having the worst time.
The winger appeared behind Óscar Mingueza after a long pass from Jules Koundé in which the Catalan full-back miscalculated and was beaten by the ball and by a Raphinha always alert, attentive to any opportunity to hurt the rival. The Brazilian broke free and finished with authority against Vicente Guaita, giving the home goalkeeper no chance in the one-on-one.
Raphinha also had a hand in Barça's second goal
In the second half, Barça managed to control the game better through possession and the final blow seemed to have come in the 61st minute, when another error by Mingueza, this time coming out, allowed the Barça number 11 to recover and filter a pass to Robert Lewansdowski. The Pole managed to get past two rivals and, amid a couple of rebounds that favoured him, he defined against Guaita to make it 0-2.
Rapha was very close to finishing off the match in the 77th minute with a powerful cross shot that was repelled by the post and, towards the end, with the score already equal, he almost hit a volley from a great chipped pass from Fermín López that Marcos Alonso miraculously deflected with the tip of his left boot.
For the Porto Alegre native, it was his 13th goal of the season and his eighth in LaLiga, which means he remains the tournament's second-highest scorer, 7 behind Lewandowski (15) and tied with Vinicius Jr. The result, logically, was bitter for Barça, but the sensations in attack continue to be excellent thanks to the good work of the Brazilian and an on-fire 'Lewy'.