Raphinha ready to strike for Catalans

BARCELONA visit Inter Milan in a tantalising Uefa Champions League semi-final, second leg, clash on Tuesday, with Raphinha’s latest contribution in the club’s spectacular European run ensuring the tie restarts on a knife-edge.

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For once this season, the statistics did not fully reflect the Brazilian’s part in Barcelona's third goal in the 3-3 first-leg draw, as his vicious strike hit the crossbar and bounced in off Inter goalkeeper Yann Sommer for an own goal.

Despite that, his Champions League numbers are spectacular and a just representation of the key role Raphinha plays in Hansi Flick’s relentless attacking machine.

Raphinha has scored 12 goals in 13 European matches and set up nine more if you include his assist for Sommer’s own goal, that’s 21 goal contributions - while opponents Inter have scored 22 as a team across the entire competition. The 28-year-old’s tally has surpassed Argentine great Lionel Messi’ best-ever total of 19 direct goal involvements with the Catalan giants in a single Champions League campaign.

Across the season, the former Leeds winger has 31 goals and 25 assists in 52 games across all competitions, as Barcelona target a potential quadruple, with the Copa del Rey and Spanish Super Cup already in the bag.