Barcelona international break: Lamine Yamal stars for Spain as Raphinha injury raises concern

Barcelona players featured heavily during the international break, highlighted by Lamine Yamal scoring twice and assisting once in Spain's 4-1 win over Croatia. However, forward Raphinha suffered a thigh injury after scoring in Brazil's 4-2 victory and returned to Barcelona for evaluation. Fellow Barcelona stars Pedri and Anthony Gordon also made key contributions, with Pedri providing an assist and Gordon scoring for England in a 2-0 win against Czechia.

Thomas Mustac argues that while the strong performances showcase Barcelona's elite talent, Raphinha's injury highlights growing concerns over the relentless football calendar. The piece notes that balancing club commitments with international duty presents an escalating physical demand for Hansi Flick's squad.