Following Carlo Ancelotti’s debut match with a firm defense of the Brazilian team, but with the midfield and the needy attack on good plays, Barcelona striker Raphinha against Real Madrid commanded by Italian last season, may now be an important reinforcement for the coach in Brazil in search of the World Cup.
One of the names listed for the best player in the world for the highlighted performance of the trio who forms alongside Lamine Yamal and Lewandowski in the Catalan team’s attack, 28-year-old gaucho striker is the scorer of Brazil in the South American qualifier, with 5 goals in 10 matches, and is expected to come back among the 11 holders against Paraguay on Tuesday (10), after being suspended against the tie against the draw against the draw against the draw against the draw against the draw against the draw against the draw against Ecuador.
After the poor performance of the Brazilian attack against the Ecuadorians, with Vinicius Junior and Stephen isolated at the tips and Richarlison for the little triggered, Ancelotti has already indicated the return of Barça striker in the match that takes place at Neo Chemistry Arena, in Itaquera, from 21h45 (Brasília time).
“There is not much time to work, but we can improve, because the quality we have is very high. At the offensive level we will improve, because today was a very important player who is the raphinha,” said the coach in a post-game interview in Guayaquil.
In the 2024/25 season, Barcelona won the five duels against the merengues – contracting for the coach’s early termination with the Spanish team and the hit with the national team -, with great performance of the Brazilian at decisive moments.
In the decision of the Spanish Super Cup, Raphinha had a gala and was elected the best of the match with two goals and a assistance, driving the turn of Barcelona 5-2 towards the title.
He shone in play in the final stretch of the Spanish Championship that left Barça with his hand in the cup, when Real Madrid even opened 2-0 with Mbappé and saw the Catalans turned to 4 to 3, with two raphinha.
In the first round match, in the middle of Santiago Bernabéu, Barcelona had already won 4-0, with the Brazilian ending the rout with a goal covering the goalkeeper.
This Friday (6), he was elected the best player of the championship last season. “The Blue Set ended a great season and Raphinha had a lot to do with the good performance of the Hansi Flick team. The Brazilian stood out with his game, and his goals and assists were fundamental to the blue. Raphinha got a total of 18 goals this season and distributed 9 assists, standing out in all matches that were decisive for the title,” said Laliga in a statement.
Thus, Raphinha arrives with morals on her return to the national team against the Paraguayans, returning after the deleted performance – at all the team – in the 4-1 defeat against Argentina, in Buenos Aires. The question is whether he should enter the attack, instead of Stephen or Richarlison, or more back in the frame in the frame, replacing Gerson or Bruno Guimarães.
With three rounds left to the end of the South American qualifiers, Brazil is the fourth place with 22 points, and can still be exceeded by Colombia, which has 20 points and receives Bolivia on Friday in Barranquila.
The Paraguayan team led by Gustavo Alfaro is a position ahead with 24 points and is packed after a 2-0 win against Uruguay at Defensers del Chaco in Asuncion, reaching the ninth unbeaten game.
In the confrontation between the two teams in the first round, Dorival Junior’s Brazil played ill away from home and lost 1-0.
