Barcelona came from behind to beat Atletico de Madrid 2-1 at the Metropolitano on Sunday, with Fermin Lopez scoring twice to keep the Catalan club top of La Liga.
However, Raphinha endured a frustrating evening against Diego Simeone’s side, struggling to make an attacking impact as Atletico’s defenders limited his influence and contained his threat.
Sports Mole reported that the Brazil forward received largely negative reviews from the Spanish media. Two publications rated him 5 out of 10, while another gave him 6 out of 10, although his pressing and work rate were acknowledged.
El Nacional was among his strongest critics, awarding Raphinha 5 out of 10 and arguing that he had disappeared during the match.
El Desmarque gave him the same score but praised his contribution without the ball. The publication highlighted the importance of his pressing in the improvement Barcelona showed during the second half.
La Vanguardia was slightly more generous, giving Raphinha 6 out of 10 and describing his performance as “constrained”. It said Atletico had defended effectively against the Brazil winger, restricting his involvement and preventing him from creating a significant attacking threat.
Mundo Deportivo described Raphinha’s display as inconsistent. The newspaper said he had fallen into Atletico’s trap by moving into crowded central areas instead of looking for space on the wings.
Despite that criticism, Mundo Deportivo stressed that there was no doubt about the player’s effort or commitment.
Barcelona-focused platform Comunitat also described Raphinha’s performance as largely flat, while Barcelona Universal gave him 6.5 out of 10. It said he had found it difficult to influence the match against Atletico’s organised defensive structure.
The reviews came after Barcelona overturned the result to claim an important victory and retain first place in La Liga. Fermin Lopez’s two goals secured all three points at the Metropolitano, but Raphinha was unable to produce the attacking contribution expected of him.
There is nevertheless little reason for Barcelona to be overly concerned by one disappointing appearance. Raphinha has made an outstanding start to the 2026-2027 season, scoring 19 goals and providing three assists in 14 appearances across La Liga and the Champions League.
The fixtures listed for 22 November 2026 included Barcelona, Villarreal, Getafe and Atletico de Madrid in La Liga.
