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Barcelona secures derby win, Raphinha opens up on frustrations under Xavi

Barcelona clinched a 3-1 victory over city rivals Espanyol yesterday, with Dani Olmo leading the charge by scoring twice in his return as a starter. Raphinha added to Barcelona’s tally with another goal, sealing a solid performance that keeps the Catalan club on track this season. The Catalan giants have now collected 33 points, extending their lead at the top of La Liga’s standings to nine points, with Real Madrid’s clash against Valencia postponed.

Under the guidance of Hansi Flick, Raphinha has become increasingly influential, now tallying 11 goals and nine assists across 15 games. Reflecting on his time with the club, Raphinha admitted feeling “left out” at times, particularly in his initial six months. “People were always saying that I was bad and I should be sold!” the Brazilian said, acknowledging past frustrations. The winger described the challenges he faced under Xavi, often feeling limited by predetermined substitutions around the 60-minute mark, which, he noted, restricted his impact even when he was performing well.



 Author: Paul Kemp

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