‘I feel good’ – Raphinha shrugs off fatigue fears ahead of Barcelona’s clash with Newcastle

Barcelona winger Raphinha has dismissed concerns over fatigue, insisting he feels fresh and ready for Wednesday’s Champions League showdown with Newcastle at St James’ Park. Speaking after Saturday’s 1-0 league win at Athletic Club, the Brazilian said the brief rest he received while nursing a minor injury has left him better placed than many team-mates to handle the club’s congested run of fixtures.

Hansi Flick left the 27-year-old on the bench at San Mamés as a precautionary measure, but Raphinha is expected to return to the starting line-up in the North-East of England. “I am not as tired as some of the other players,” he told reporters. “After all, I am recovering from a minor injury, so I have had time to rest. I feel good.”

Barça’s schedule has been relentless: a bruising Copa del Rey second-leg tie against Atlético Madrid was followed immediately by the trip to Bilbao, yet the victory restored the Catalans’ four-point cushion at the top of La Liga. “It is true that there is some fatigue from the last match because it was a very tough game, and that is normal,” Raphinha admitted. “The most important thing is that we secured the three points.”

With the Champions League resuming mid-week, Flick will hope his rotation gamble pays dividends, and Raphinha’s upbeat assessment will reassure the German coach that one of his key attackers is primed for another high-stakes encounter.