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    • Raphinha’s hat-trick at Bayern is proof of his newfound confidence and Barcelona’s transformation
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    Raphinha’s hat-trick at Bayern is proof of his newfound confidence and Barcelona’s transformation

    Vaseline Posted on

    “I’ve been dreaming of nights like this since I came to this club,” Raphinha said in the mixed zone of Barcelona’s temporary home, the Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys.

    The Brazilian had just led Barça to a 4-1 victory against Bayern Munich, with undoubtedly the best performance of his career: scoring a hat-trick, collecting the ‘Man of the Match’ award and leaving the pitch with 15 minutes to go left to a standing ovation. .

    No one at Barcelona would have dreamed of such a performance from the 27-year-old a few months ago.

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    The Brief: Barcelona 4 Bayern Munich 1 – Rahinha hat-trick gives Hansi Flick a triumphant evening against his former club

    Raphinha is one of the players who have made a huge leap forward under coach Hansi Flick. Robert Lewandowski scored fifteen goals in thirteen games this season and is back to his best. Pedri has gone from three injury-riddled seasons to the kind of midfielder who dominates games for fun. Even Inigo Martinez has gone from a fringe player to a starting centre-back.

    But Raphinha’s transformation is the most impressive of them all. Over the past two summers, he has been one of the players for whom Barcelona have been keen to listen to offers. Now he is flourishing as a forward in Flick’s system.

    Raphinha has played as a number 10 behind Lewandowski or as a left winger this season. Those roles seemed an odd fit when he joined from Leeds United in 2021, but they have helped him score 17 goals (nine goals, eight assists) in 13 games this season.

    The image below shows how crucial he was in Barca’s attack on Bayern, with the most progressive carries and the most involvement in attacking sequences.

    “The confidence I feel from the manager is very important to explain my good form,” Raphinha said before the match. “But I also understood that if I wanted to play for this club, I had to adapt to different positions.”

    That seemed to refer to Lamine Yamal’s breakthrough in the 2023-2024 season. The teenager’s emergence presented a challenge for Raphinha as he claimed the Brazilian’s starting spot at right winger.

    After leading Spain to success at the European Championship this summer, no one could question Yamal’s fundamental role at Barcelona. Raphinha processed that quickly and understood that he had to take on new roles that he had not explored before.

    Many of its features ensure that it fits perfectly with Flick’s philosophy. His intense high-pressing ability allows other players, such as Lewandowski, to take a backseat in that department. He is versatile and dynamic, with the technical ability to connect well with his teammates.

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    Raphinha’s reinvention at Barcelona: Hansi Flick has unleashed his athleticism

    But the biggest difference is his confidence, which was reflected in every goal he scored against Bayern.

    Just a minute into the match, Raphinha trusted himself enough to round goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, with all the possible embarrassment a miss could have caused, before finding himself in an empty net.

    For British viewers:

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    His second was the kind that a player only scores when he is in full flow. He cut inside on his weaker right foot on the edge of the penalty area, before curling a shot between the legs of defender Dayot Upamecano and into the only part of the net that Neuer would not be able to reach.

    On his third and final attempt, he took an excellent ball from Yamal on his chest, held off two defenders and finished with his left foot – with no one at the Lluis Companys doubting that he would score again at that moment.

    Club sources – who, like everyone quoted in this article, wish to remain anonymous to protect relationships – point to a number of changes for Raphinha over the past two seasons that have filled him with this confidence.

    They say he now feels liberated, knowing he has a decent chance to finish games and show his full potential. In the past, Raphinha has been frustrated as he was usually the first to be substituted in the second half of games, regardless of his performance. He has played the full 90 minutes in eight of 10 La Liga games this season, compared to just four of a possible 28 games in the last one.

    Another big change is the reform of Barcelona’s physical training department, overseen by sporting director Deco. Raphinha previously felt his standards were not being met in this department, which led to him hiring a personal physical trainer and physiotherapist outside the club. He has now stopped working with outside professionals after being so impressed with the new-look staff, led by former Chelsea and Juventus physiotherapist Julio Tous.

    Raphinha has found his place on the field and in the dressing room. Before the start of the season, he was the players’ most popular choice to become one of the team captains following the departure of former skipper Sergi Roberto. That news surprised fans, but it didn’t take long for them to see how much of a role model Raphinha is for this team.

    In a starting XI with wise heads like Lewandowski (36 years), Martinez (33) and Raphinha himself, Barcelona’s average age was 24 years and 185 days. There is a lot of youth on the Flick team, but this new generation needs veterans to look up to and connect with.

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    Raphinha is exactly that figure, with close relationships in the dressing room with youngsters Yamal, Alejandro Balde, Fermin Lopez and Marc Casado.

    “It’s time to forget the past and think more about the present we have,” said the Brazilian in the mixed zone. “This is a young team, but filled with talent and great players. The locker room is ready to continue. I’m just super happy to be here.”

    Last night, Barcelona fans showed him that the feeling is finally mutual.

    (Top photo: Lluis Gene/AFP via Getty Images)

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