Raphinha could miss El Clasico after booking risk despite returning from hamstring lay-off

Barcelona winger Raphinha is back in consideration after a month out with a hamstring injury but risks missing next week's El Clasico against Real Madrid if he receives another yellow card in the remaining La Liga fixtures. The winger is set to travel with Hansi Flick's squad to Osasuna this Saturday (Matchday 35), with minutes anticipated to rebuild match fitness — a decision that carries the added danger of a caution and subsequent one-match suspension.

Return from injury but one booking away

Raphinha has been on the sidelines since March 26 after suffering a hamstring issue while on international duty with Brazil. The reported recovery has kept him out of four La Liga matches and the club's Champions League quarter-final ties with Atletico Madrid. He is expected to be included in the squad to face Osasuna and, given his recent absence, is unlikely to start; Flick is reported to be planning to introduce him from the bench to manage his minutes and sharpness ahead of the crucial fixture against Real Madrid.

Why a yellow card matters for Barcelona

According to the report, Raphinha has accumulated four yellow cards in La Liga this season. La Liga rules mean one more booking in the remaining domestic matches would trigger a one-match suspension — a ban that would rule him out of El Clasico should that yellow be received before the Madrid game. With Lamine Yamal unavailable through injury, the significance of Raphinha's availability is heightened, as he has been an important attacking outlet for Barcelona this season.

Real Madrid, meanwhile, are said to be prioritising readiness for El Clasico and will rest some players in their upcoming La Liga fixture. The report names Kylian Mbappe and Thibaut Courtois as absent from Real Madrid's matchday selection ahead of the Madrid–Barcelona meeting, underlining how both clubs are managing fitness and suspensions with next week's showdown in mind.

Match fitness, selection and risk management

Flick faces a balancing act: he needs to bank Raphinha's minutes to restore sharpness and cohesion in attack while avoiding exposing him to the booking that would hand Barcelona a significant selection problem for El Clasico. Introducing him as a substitute against Osasuna reduces the chance of re-injury but does not eliminate the possibility of a yellow card in a heated fixture.

• Raphinha has been out since March 26 with a hamstring injury (reported).
• He missed four La Liga matches and Barcelona's Champions League quarter-final ties with Atletico Madrid (reported).
• Raphinha is said to have four yellow cards in La Liga this season and would be suspended after one more booking (reported).
• He is expected to be included in the squad for Barcelona's trip to Osasuna on Matchday 35 but likely to be used from the bench (reported).
• Real Madrid are reportedly resting key players ahead of El Clasico, prioritising the Madrid fixture.

What it means: If Raphinha manages to avoid a booking in the remaining La Liga fixtures before El Clasico, Barcelona will regain one of their key attacking options for a match that could decide the title. If he does pick up another yellow against Osasuna or in any subsequent La Liga game, he would face a one-match suspension and miss the showdown with Real Madrid — forcing Hansi Flick to rely on other wide options while Lamine Yamal remains sidelined.