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Salah ‘deserves big send-off’, says Liverpool boss Slot

Barca is without injured teenage star Lamine Yamal, with Flick saying the 18-year-old is recovering well from the hamstring problem, which will keep him out until the end of the season.

“He’s doing good, so the evolution is good. I think we will see him in the World Cup. He has time, more time, to recover, to come back. And this is what he wants,” said Flick.

If Barca wins its remaining five league matches, it will reach the 100-point record first set by Jose Mourinho’s Real Madrid in 2012 and then matched by Tito Vilanova’s Barcelona side in 2013.

“We are only focused on the next match, (but) of course we want to win every game between now and the end of the season,” said Flick.

“For me, it would be perfect when we can win every game, but also have tough opponents. Our job is, in every match, to play on our best level, to learn from the game for the next game and for our training. So this is our philosophy, our attitude, our mentality,” he added.

Published on May 01, 2026

#Hansi #Flick #happy #Raphinha #Barcelona #Liga #title #sight"> Hansi Flick happy Raphinha is back for Barcelona with La Liga 2025-26 title in sight Barcelona coach Hansi Flick celebrated the return of winger Raphinha from injury on Friday as the Catalans close in on the La Liga 2025-26 title.Flick’s team is 11 points clear of second-place Real Madrid and can win a second successive league title this weekend if it beats Osasuna on Saturday and Los Blancos drop points at out-of-form Espanyol the following day.Raphinha suffered a hamstring injury while playing for Brazil in March, which left him sidelined as Barcelona was knocked out of the Champions League by Atletico Madrid in the quarterfinals.Barca faces Real Madrid on May 10 in a Clasico which could seal its title defence if it does not clinch it this weekend, and is still in with a chance of matching the all-time record of 100 points in a Spanish league campaign.“Rapha is a player who always gives us 100 percent, when he’s on the pitch or in training,” Flick told reporters.“His mentality, his attitude, is always 100 percent and that helps us a lot. This season, he has had to suffer (from injury), so for us it’s important to have him back. He will also travel with us, and we’ll see what happens tomorrow… I think also for the team it’s great to have him back, because he’s one of our captains, he’s positive and can give us these things that we need,” he added.ALSO READ | Salah ‘deserves big send-off’, says Liverpool boss SlotBarca is without injured teenage star Lamine Yamal, with Flick saying the 18-year-old is recovering well from the hamstring problem, which will keep him out until the end of the season.“He’s doing good, so the evolution is good. I think we will see him in the World Cup. He has time, more time, to recover, to come back. And this is what he wants,” said Flick.If Barca wins its remaining five league matches, it will reach the 100-point record first set by Jose Mourinho’s Real Madrid in 2012 and then matched by Tito Vilanova’s Barcelona side in 2013.“We are only focused on the next match, (but) of course we want to win every game between now and the end of the season,” said Flick.“For me, it would be perfect when we can win every game, but also have tough opponents. Our job is, in every match, to play on our best level, to learn from the game for the next game and for our training. So this is our philosophy, our attitude, our mentality,” he added.Published on May 01, 2026 #Hansi #Flick #happy #Raphinha #Barcelona #Liga #title #sight
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Salah ‘deserves big send-off’, says Liverpool boss Slot

Barca is without injured teenage star Lamine Yamal, with Flick saying the 18-year-old is recovering well from the hamstring problem, which will keep him out until the end of the season.

“He’s doing good, so the evolution is good. I think we will see him in the World Cup. He has time, more time, to recover, to come back. And this is what he wants,” said Flick.

If Barca wins its remaining five league matches, it will reach the 100-point record first set by Jose Mourinho’s Real Madrid in 2012 and then matched by Tito Vilanova’s Barcelona side in 2013.

“We are only focused on the next match, (but) of course we want to win every game between now and the end of the season,” said Flick.

“For me, it would be perfect when we can win every game, but also have tough opponents. Our job is, in every match, to play on our best level, to learn from the game for the next game and for our training. So this is our philosophy, our attitude, our mentality,” he added.

Published on May 01, 2026

#Hansi #Flick #happy #Raphinha #Barcelona #Liga #title #sight">Hansi Flick happy Raphinha is back for Barcelona with La Liga 2025-26 title in sight

Barcelona coach Hansi Flick celebrated the return of winger Raphinha from injury on Friday as the Catalans close in on the La Liga 2025-26 title.

Flick’s team is 11 points clear of second-place Real Madrid and can win a second successive league title this weekend if it beats Osasuna on Saturday and Los Blancos drop points at out-of-form Espanyol the following day.

Raphinha suffered a hamstring injury while playing for Brazil in March, which left him sidelined as Barcelona was knocked out of the Champions League by Atletico Madrid in the quarterfinals.

Barca faces Real Madrid on May 10 in a Clasico which could seal its title defence if it does not clinch it this weekend, and is still in with a chance of matching the all-time record of 100 points in a Spanish league campaign.

“Rapha is a player who always gives us 100 percent, when he’s on the pitch or in training,” Flick told reporters.

“His mentality, his attitude, is always 100 percent and that helps us a lot. This season, he has had to suffer (from injury), so for us it’s important to have him back. He will also travel with us, and we’ll see what happens tomorrow… I think also for the team it’s great to have him back, because he’s one of our captains, he’s positive and can give us these things that we need,” he added.

ALSO READ | Salah ‘deserves big send-off’, says Liverpool boss Slot

Barca is without injured teenage star Lamine Yamal, with Flick saying the 18-year-old is recovering well from the hamstring problem, which will keep him out until the end of the season.

“He’s doing good, so the evolution is good. I think we will see him in the World Cup. He has time, more time, to recover, to come back. And this is what he wants,” said Flick.

If Barca wins its remaining five league matches, it will reach the 100-point record first set by Jose Mourinho’s Real Madrid in 2012 and then matched by Tito Vilanova’s Barcelona side in 2013.

“We are only focused on the next match, (but) of course we want to win every game between now and the end of the season,” said Flick.

“For me, it would be perfect when we can win every game, but also have tough opponents. Our job is, in every match, to play on our best level, to learn from the game for the next game and for our training. So this is our philosophy, our attitude, our mentality,” he added.

Published on May 01, 2026

#Hansi #Flick #happy #Raphinha #Barcelona #Liga #title #sight

Barcelona coach Hansi Flick celebrated the return of winger Raphinha from injury on Friday as…

Barcelona was “robbed” over the two legs.

The Brazil star is likely to face punishment from UEFA for his actions at the Metropolitano stadium.

While still on the field, he gestured toward Atletico supporters and made a gesture apparently indicating that the rival will be eliminated in the next round. He appeared to tell fans “you are out.”

“I apologize for my gesture, which does not reflect my values ​​or character,” Raphinha said on Wednesday in a comment to a DAZN post that showed him gesturing to the crowd. “It was an act in a moment of tension, in response to a fan who was disrespecting me.”

Barcelona, seeking to return to the semifinals of the Champions League for the second season in a row, won 2-1 on Tuesday but it wasn’t enough to overcome a 2-0 loss at home in the first leg last week.

Atletico goalkeeper Juan Musso said it was nonsense for Raphinha to say Barcelona was robbed.

“I respect everyone’s opinion, but let’s not say that it was a robbery, because it wasn’t like that,” Musso said. “We won it on the field. We won 2-0 on the road. It’s a team that we respect a lot and are very motivated to play against. It’s a great team, but I think that to talk about robbery is just crazy.”

Raphinha did not immediately apologize for his comments about the refereeing.

“To me, it was ‘robbed’,” he told reporters on Tuesday. “Not only this match, but the other one as well. The refereeing was very bad. Incredible the decisions that they made. Atletico made a lot of fouls and the referee didn’t show a single yellow card.”

Other players also criticized the refereeing over the two legs.

President-elect Joan Laporta said Wednesday that the refereeing was “shameful” and “inadmissible,” and said the club planned to present a formal complaint with UEFA.

Published on Apr 15, 2026

#UEFA #Champions #League #Raphinha #apologizes #gesture #Atletico #fans #Barcelonas #exit"> UEFA Champions League — Raphinha apologizes for gesture toward Atletico fans after Barcelona’s exit Barcelona forward Raphinha has apologized for his gesture toward Atletico Madrid fans after his team’s elimination in the quarterfinals of the Champions League.Raphinha, who didn’t play on Tuesday because of a hamstring injury, also criticized the refereeing, making the “robbed” sign with his hands, and later told reporters that Barcelona was “robbed” over the two legs.The Brazil star is likely to face punishment from UEFA for his actions at the Metropolitano stadium.While still on the field, he gestured toward Atletico supporters and made a gesture apparently indicating that the rival will be eliminated in the next round. He appeared to tell fans “you are out.”“I apologize for my gesture, which does not reflect my values ​​or character,” Raphinha said on Wednesday in a comment to a DAZN post that showed him gesturing to the crowd. “It was an act in a moment of tension, in response to a fan who was disrespecting me.”Barcelona, seeking to return to the semifinals of the Champions League for the second season in a row, won 2-1 on Tuesday but it wasn’t enough to overcome a 2-0 loss at home in the first leg last week.Atletico goalkeeper Juan Musso said it was nonsense for Raphinha to say Barcelona was robbed.“I respect everyone’s opinion, but let’s not say that it was a robbery, because it wasn’t like that,” Musso said. “We won it on the field. We won 2-0 on the road. It’s a team that we respect a lot and are very motivated to play against. It’s a great team, but I think that to talk about robbery is just crazy.”Raphinha did not immediately apologize for his comments about the refereeing.“To me, it was ‘robbed’,” he told reporters on Tuesday. “Not only this match, but the other one as well. The refereeing was very bad. Incredible the decisions that they made. Atletico made a lot of fouls and the referee didn’t show a single yellow card.”Other players also criticized the refereeing over the two legs.President-elect Joan Laporta said Wednesday that the refereeing was “shameful” and “inadmissible,” and said the club planned to present a formal complaint with UEFA.Published on Apr 15, 2026 #UEFA #Champions #League #Raphinha #apologizes #gesture #Atletico #fans #Barcelonas #exit
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Barcelona was “robbed” over the two legs.

The Brazil star is likely to face punishment from UEFA for his actions at the Metropolitano stadium.

While still on the field, he gestured toward Atletico supporters and made a gesture apparently indicating that the rival will be eliminated in the next round. He appeared to tell fans “you are out.”

“I apologize for my gesture, which does not reflect my values ​​or character,” Raphinha said on Wednesday in a comment to a DAZN post that showed him gesturing to the crowd. “It was an act in a moment of tension, in response to a fan who was disrespecting me.”

Barcelona, seeking to return to the semifinals of the Champions League for the second season in a row, won 2-1 on Tuesday but it wasn’t enough to overcome a 2-0 loss at home in the first leg last week.

Atletico goalkeeper Juan Musso said it was nonsense for Raphinha to say Barcelona was robbed.

“I respect everyone’s opinion, but let’s not say that it was a robbery, because it wasn’t like that,” Musso said. “We won it on the field. We won 2-0 on the road. It’s a team that we respect a lot and are very motivated to play against. It’s a great team, but I think that to talk about robbery is just crazy.”

Raphinha did not immediately apologize for his comments about the refereeing.

“To me, it was ‘robbed’,” he told reporters on Tuesday. “Not only this match, but the other one as well. The refereeing was very bad. Incredible the decisions that they made. Atletico made a lot of fouls and the referee didn’t show a single yellow card.”

Other players also criticized the refereeing over the two legs.

President-elect Joan Laporta said Wednesday that the refereeing was “shameful” and “inadmissible,” and said the club planned to present a formal complaint with UEFA.

Published on Apr 15, 2026

#UEFA #Champions #League #Raphinha #apologizes #gesture #Atletico #fans #Barcelonas #exit">UEFA Champions League — Raphinha apologizes for gesture toward Atletico fans after Barcelona’s exit

Barcelona forward Raphinha has apologized for his gesture toward Atletico Madrid fans after his team’s elimination in the quarterfinals of the Champions League.

Raphinha, who didn’t play on Tuesday because of a hamstring injury, also criticized the refereeing, making the “robbed” sign with his hands, and later told reporters that Barcelona was “robbed” over the two legs.

The Brazil star is likely to face punishment from UEFA for his actions at the Metropolitano stadium.

While still on the field, he gestured toward Atletico supporters and made a gesture apparently indicating that the rival will be eliminated in the next round. He appeared to tell fans “you are out.”

“I apologize for my gesture, which does not reflect my values ​​or character,” Raphinha said on Wednesday in a comment to a DAZN post that showed him gesturing to the crowd. “It was an act in a moment of tension, in response to a fan who was disrespecting me.”

Barcelona, seeking to return to the semifinals of the Champions League for the second season in a row, won 2-1 on Tuesday but it wasn’t enough to overcome a 2-0 loss at home in the first leg last week.

Atletico goalkeeper Juan Musso said it was nonsense for Raphinha to say Barcelona was robbed.

“I respect everyone’s opinion, but let’s not say that it was a robbery, because it wasn’t like that,” Musso said. “We won it on the field. We won 2-0 on the road. It’s a team that we respect a lot and are very motivated to play against. It’s a great team, but I think that to talk about robbery is just crazy.”

Raphinha did not immediately apologize for his comments about the refereeing.

“To me, it was ‘robbed’,” he told reporters on Tuesday. “Not only this match, but the other one as well. The refereeing was very bad. Incredible the decisions that they made. Atletico made a lot of fouls and the referee didn’t show a single yellow card.”

Other players also criticized the refereeing over the two legs.

President-elect Joan Laporta said Wednesday that the refereeing was “shameful” and “inadmissible,” and said the club planned to present a formal complaint with UEFA.

Published on Apr 15, 2026

#UEFA #Champions #League #Raphinha #apologizes #gesture #Atletico #fans #Barcelonas #exit

Barcelona forward Raphinha has apologized for his gesture toward Atletico Madrid fans after his team’s…

Atletico Madrid withstands Barcelona’s early blitz to reach the Champions League semifinals

“It was tough, especially when you realise you have to work three times as hard to win the match,” Raphinha added.

“I think this ‌tie was quite misleading, in my view. I think ​everyone can make mistakes; everyone is human. But when the mistakes keep repeating themselves in exactly the ⁠same way, I think that’s something we need to pay attention to.”

Reuters has asked UEFA for comment.

In last week’s first leg, Kovacs ‌sent off Pau Cubarsi in the 42nd minute after a VAR review for hauling down Giuliano Simeone as he raced clear on goal, upgrading an initial yellow card.

Atletico scored from the resulting free kick, Julian Alvarez curling into the top right corner beyond Joan Garcia.

On Tuesday, Turpin followed a similar course as ‌Barca defender Garcia was dismissed after a VAR review for holding Alexander Sorloth ​from behind while he ran through on goal.

Barcelona had lodged a formal complaint, rejected by UEFA, over ⁠an incident early in the second half of the first leg.

The side had ⁠appealed for a penalty after Atletico keeper Juan Musso appeared to put the ball back in play from ‌a goal kick before Marc Pubill handled inside the six-yard box to retake it.

Kovacs waved play on, and VAR did ​not intervene, prompting angry reactions from the Barcelona bench.

Published on Apr 15, 2026

#Raphinha #fumes #refereeing #Barcelonas #Champions #League #exit"> Raphinha fumes at refereeing after Barcelona’s Champions League exit Barcelona forward Raphinha launched a scathing attack on the refereeing in the Champions League quarterfinal ​tie as his side was knocked out 3-2 on aggregate by Atletico ‌Madrid on Tuesday, having finished both legs with 10 ​men.The Brazilian, sidelined through injury for both matches, ⁠accused referees Clement Turpin, who officiated the second game, and Istvan Kovacs, from the first, of “robbing” his team.“As far as I’m concerned, it was ‌a robbery, not just this match but the other one (the first leg) as well,” Raphinha told reporters ‌after Barca’s 2-1 win on the night was not enough.“I ‌think ⁠the refereeing is going really badly; the decisions ⁠he (Turpin) makes are unbelievable … I really want to understand why they’re so afraid that Barcelona will come and win.”Broadcast images showed Raphinha repeatedly making a grabbing ​motion with his hands after ‌the final whistle, a gesture commonly associated with “stealing”.READ: Atletico Madrid withstands Barcelona’s early blitz to reach the Champions League semifinals“It was tough, especially when you realise you have to work three times as hard to win the match,” Raphinha added.“I think this ‌tie was quite misleading, in my view. I think ​everyone can make mistakes; everyone is human. But when the mistakes keep repeating themselves in exactly the ⁠same way, I think that’s something we need to pay attention to.”Reuters has asked UEFA for comment.In last week’s first leg, Kovacs ‌sent off Pau Cubarsi in the 42nd minute after a VAR review for hauling down Giuliano Simeone as he raced clear on goal, upgrading an initial yellow card.Atletico scored from the resulting free kick, Julian Alvarez curling into the top right corner beyond Joan Garcia.On Tuesday, Turpin followed a similar course as ‌Barca defender Garcia was dismissed after a VAR review for holding Alexander Sorloth ​from behind while he ran through on goal.Barcelona had lodged a formal complaint, rejected by UEFA, over ⁠an incident early in the second half of the first leg.The side had ⁠appealed for a penalty after Atletico keeper Juan Musso appeared to put the ball back in play from ‌a goal kick before Marc Pubill handled inside the six-yard box to retake it.Kovacs waved play on, and VAR did ​not intervene, prompting angry reactions from the Barcelona bench.Published on Apr 15, 2026 #Raphinha #fumes #refereeing #Barcelonas #Champions #League #exit
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Atletico Madrid withstands Barcelona’s early blitz to reach the Champions League semifinals

“It was tough, especially when you realise you have to work three times as hard to win the match,” Raphinha added.

“I think this ‌tie was quite misleading, in my view. I think ​everyone can make mistakes; everyone is human. But when the mistakes keep repeating themselves in exactly the ⁠same way, I think that’s something we need to pay attention to.”

Reuters has asked UEFA for comment.

In last week’s first leg, Kovacs ‌sent off Pau Cubarsi in the 42nd minute after a VAR review for hauling down Giuliano Simeone as he raced clear on goal, upgrading an initial yellow card.

Atletico scored from the resulting free kick, Julian Alvarez curling into the top right corner beyond Joan Garcia.

On Tuesday, Turpin followed a similar course as ‌Barca defender Garcia was dismissed after a VAR review for holding Alexander Sorloth ​from behind while he ran through on goal.

Barcelona had lodged a formal complaint, rejected by UEFA, over ⁠an incident early in the second half of the first leg.

The side had ⁠appealed for a penalty after Atletico keeper Juan Musso appeared to put the ball back in play from ‌a goal kick before Marc Pubill handled inside the six-yard box to retake it.

Kovacs waved play on, and VAR did ​not intervene, prompting angry reactions from the Barcelona bench.

Published on Apr 15, 2026

#Raphinha #fumes #refereeing #Barcelonas #Champions #League #exit">Raphinha fumes at refereeing after Barcelona’s Champions League exit

Barcelona forward Raphinha launched a scathing attack on the refereeing in the Champions League quarterfinal ​tie as his side was knocked out 3-2 on aggregate by Atletico ‌Madrid on Tuesday, having finished both legs with 10 ​men.

The Brazilian, sidelined through injury for both matches, ⁠accused referees Clement Turpin, who officiated the second game, and Istvan Kovacs, from the first, of “robbing” his team.

“As far as I’m concerned, it was ‌a robbery, not just this match but the other one (the first leg) as well,” Raphinha told reporters ‌after Barca’s 2-1 win on the night was not enough.

“I ‌think ⁠the refereeing is going really badly; the decisions ⁠he (Turpin) makes are unbelievable … I really want to understand why they’re so afraid that Barcelona will come and win.”

Broadcast images showed Raphinha repeatedly making a grabbing ​motion with his hands after ‌the final whistle, a gesture commonly associated with “stealing”.

READ: Atletico Madrid withstands Barcelona’s early blitz to reach the Champions League semifinals

“It was tough, especially when you realise you have to work three times as hard to win the match,” Raphinha added.

“I think this ‌tie was quite misleading, in my view. I think ​everyone can make mistakes; everyone is human. But when the mistakes keep repeating themselves in exactly the ⁠same way, I think that’s something we need to pay attention to.”

Reuters has asked UEFA for comment.

In last week’s first leg, Kovacs ‌sent off Pau Cubarsi in the 42nd minute after a VAR review for hauling down Giuliano Simeone as he raced clear on goal, upgrading an initial yellow card.

Atletico scored from the resulting free kick, Julian Alvarez curling into the top right corner beyond Joan Garcia.

On Tuesday, Turpin followed a similar course as ‌Barca defender Garcia was dismissed after a VAR review for holding Alexander Sorloth ​from behind while he ran through on goal.

Barcelona had lodged a formal complaint, rejected by UEFA, over ⁠an incident early in the second half of the first leg.

The side had ⁠appealed for a penalty after Atletico keeper Juan Musso appeared to put the ball back in play from ‌a goal kick before Marc Pubill handled inside the six-yard box to retake it.

Kovacs waved play on, and VAR did ​not intervene, prompting angry reactions from the Barcelona bench.

Published on Apr 15, 2026

#Raphinha #fumes #refereeing #Barcelonas #Champions #League #exit

Barcelona forward Raphinha launched a scathing attack on the refereeing in the Champions League quarterfinal…