Raphinha's Barca rise key to devastating run in Europe

Barcelona visit Inter Milan in a tantalising 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.

- Agencies

BARCELONA:

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 part Raphinha forms of 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, 21 goal contributions -- while opponents Inter have scored 22 as a team across the whole competition.

The 28-year-old's tally has surpassed Argentine great Lionel Messi's best ever total of 19 direct goal involvements with the Catalan giants in a Champions League campaign.

Over 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.