Barcelona forward Raphinha answered his surprise benching in the best way possible, coming off the bench to score two goals in his team’s commanding 6-0 La Liga victory over Valencia on Sunday.
From Benched to Brilliant: Raphinha Drives Barcelona to Victory
Coach Hansi Flick unexpectedly left the Brazilian out of the starting lineup after he arrived late for a pre-match activation session.
A source told ESPN that a misunderstanding caused the delay, marking the latest in a series of similar disciplinary measures Flick has taken since taking charge.
Raphinha entered the match at halftime, replacing debutant Roony Bardghji, and quickly made his impact.
He doubled Barca’s lead shortly after the break and later added a fourth goal in a dominant team performance.
Fermin Lopez also scored a brace, while Robert Lewandowski came off the bench to net his first two goals of the season.
Flick praised the entire squad’s mentality after the match. “Only 11 players can start, so we have a little more in the team,” he said with a smile when asked about Raphinha.
“His attitude is fantastic, I love what I see, and his mentality also. He wants to learn and to play with the team.”
The match also featured an emotional return for Marc Bernal, who made his first appearance after 383 days out with a torn ACL.
The 18-year-old received a warm reception from the home crowd and even provided the assist for Lewandowski’s second goal.
The comprehensive win gives Barcelona 10 points from their first four league matches.
The team now turns its focus to a challenging UEFA Champions League opener away to Newcastle United on Thursday.
