FC Barcelona once again suffered the rough play of Getafe (3-0) at the Estadi Johan Cruyff. José Bordalás' team, true to their forceful style, gave up possession and dedicated themselves to stopping the Azulgrana attack with a dozen fouls in the first half. In this context, Raphinha became a negative protagonist after seeing a yellow card in the 32nd minute and almost being sent off shortly before halftime.

The first caution came from a childish mistake: serving a ball without waiting for the referee to place the opposing wall. Then, in a heated play with Diego Rico, the Brazilian was on the verge of a second yellow. The Getafe full-back ended up on the ground feigning an aggression, and De Burgos Bengoetxea, very close to the action, left the Culé bench in suspense.

The push by Raphinha for which Getafe asked for his second yellow card and expulsion:

Hansi Flick's immediate reaction

Hansi Flick, aware of the risk, did not hesitate to act at halftime. The German coach withdrew Raphinha and brought on Rashford, who had started the match on the bench due to a disciplinary punishment after arriving late to the morning talk. The decision avoided a possible major setback and allowed Barça to maintain control of the match.

The former Manchester United player was key to giving fresh air to the attack. His entry offered speed and offensive presence, balancing Getafe's intensity and helping the Azulgrana team not lose solidity in the second half.

Déjà vu for Raphinha against Getafe

The Porto Alegre winger already experienced a similar situation two seasons ago at the Coliseum Alfonso Pérez, where he was also sent off for falling into the provocations of the Azulón team. This new episode reflects the Brazilian's difficulty in controlling his impetus against a style of play that prioritizes constant interruption and physical confrontation.

The Culé fans did not overlook the detail. Many remember that Raphinha is one of the most critical players of Bordalás' philosophy, which he considers unsportsmanlike. However, he once again let himself be carried away by the tension instead of focusing on providing imbalance on the wing.

The “bad boys” of Getafe return to the scene

The Madrid team once again showed their roughest side: ten fouls in just 45 minutes, constant interruptions, and protests at every refereeing decision. Bordalás remained true to his manual, aware that making the Barça uncomfortable involves breaking their rhythm.

The strategy, although criticized, bore fruit in the first half, forcing the Catalan club to deal more with the rough atmosphere than with the ball. Jules Koundé was one of the most affected, after a hard tackle that caused a widespread scuffle. There, Raphinha once again exposed himself unnecessarily by confronting Rico, which motivated Flick's immediate reaction.

Flick's discipline and looking to the future

Hansi Flick's tactical change not only protected Barça from being left with ten players against Getafe, but also sent a clear message: in this team, no one is above discipline. The initial substitution of Rashford was the most obvious example, as the German did not hesitate to remove the hero of Newcastle for a matter of punctuality.

With an eye on the next match against Real Oviedo, the German coach knows that he needs all his men available. Avoiding unnecessary sanctions and managing the minutes of his figures is key to facing a calendar that includes a double league matchday and the imminent clash against PSG in the Champions League.