When Raphinha joined Barcelona’s pre-season squad final summer time, few would have anticipated him to be thriving on the membership 9 months later – not to mention delivering his most profitable season up to now.
The Brazilian attacker had arrived at Camp Nou in 2022 from Leeds United in a £55 million transfer, however his first two seasons had been removed from spectacular. This yr, nonetheless, the 28-year-old has emerged as a driving pressure behind Barcelona’s pursuit of a historic treble. With the group sitting 4 factors forward in La Liga and reaching the Copa del Rey remaining, their marketing campaign has been nothing wanting exceptional.
Barcelona took one other important step ahead with a commanding 4-0 victory over Borussia Dortmund of their Champions League quarter-final first leg. That outcome prolonged their unbeaten run to 23 matches. “They dominate the ball and punish you in case you give them area,” mentioned Karen Carney on TNT Sports activities. “Their entrance three simply outscore you. It’s scary.”
Raphinha’s contribution has been immense – netting 28 targets and registering 20 assists in all competitions. In opposition to Dortmund, he opened the scoring within the twenty fifth minute after which offered assists for Robert Lewandowski and Lamine Yamal. These involvements took his Champions League tally to 19 objective contributions in simply 11 appearances, equalling Lionel Messi’s membership report from the 2011-12 season.
“It’s unimaginable to even point out his identify alongside Messi’s,” mentioned Stephen Warnock on BBC Match of the Day. With probably 4 video games nonetheless to play, Raphinha is simply three objective involvements away from surpassing Cristiano Ronaldo’s all-time report of 21 in a single marketing campaign, set in 2013-14 for Actual Madrid.
The Brazilian has additionally created 34 possibilities on this season’s Champions League, rating second total within the competitors. His reference to Lewandowski and Yamal has elevated him into the dialog for subsequent yr’s Ballon d’Or. Talking after the Dortmund match, he mentioned, “I like enjoying alongside high-level gamers. We’re producing unimaginable numbers, and I hope we are able to preserve going.”
Lewandowski hits new milestones in standout season
Whereas Raphinha has shone brightly, Robert Lewandowski has matched him stride for stride. At 36, the Poland ahead continues to defy age, reaching new private milestones this season.
His brace towards former membership Dortmund raised his Barcelona tally to 99 targets in 140 matches. The strikes additionally made him the primary participant within the high 5 European leagues to hit 40 targets throughout all competitions this season.
That is already Lewandowski’s most efficient marketing campaign since becoming a member of the Catalan giants, surpassing his totals from each 2022-23 and 2023-24. Impressively, 93 of his 99 targets for the membership have come from contained in the penalty field – highlighting his instinctive ending in tight areas.
One other report fell on Wednesday as he grew to become the primary footballer to attain 10 or extra targets in a single Champions League season for 3 completely different golf equipment – Borussia Dortmund, Bayern Munich, and now Barcelona.
Barcelona’s trio amongst Europe’s most deadly
With Raphinha main the Champions League scoring charts on 12 and Lewandowski only one behind on 11, Barcelona now boasts the highest two scorers within the competitors. It’s a uncommon feat – solely twice up to now 20 years have teammates claimed the highest two positions.
The final to take action had been Lewandowski and Serge Gnabry for Bayern Munich in 2019-20, and earlier than them Neymar and Messi for Barcelona in 2014-15. It’s occurred solely 4 different occasions in match historical past.
Their dominance is additional bolstered by the emergence of teenage sensation Lamine Yamal, who has scored 14 targets and offered 18 assists this season. On Wednesday, he set a brand new mark because the youngest participant to begin 20 Champions League matches, reaching the feat at simply 17 years and 270 days.
Collectively, Raphinha, Lewandowski, and Yamal have mixed for 82 targets within the marketing campaign, forming a fearsome attacking unit that has overwhelmed defenses throughout Europe. “That’s the sort of entrance line that may carry a group to a Champions League title,” mentioned BBC Match of the Day’s Rory Smith. “Their attacking menace is as robust as any group proper now.”
