Barça seek ninth straight win at Galatasaray as Raphinha and De Jong near return
Barcelona travel to Istanbul for a Champions League match against Galatasaray on Tuesday, 13 October, looking to extend a nine-match winning run. Raphinha has started training on the pitch after a thigh injury, while Frenkie de Jong is still short of a medical clearance.
Istanbul trip and a nine-match run
Barcelona travel to Istanbul for their second Champions League league-phase match against Galatasaray on Tuesday, 13 October, with kickoff at 21:00. The squad's trip was delayed before departure, according to EL PAÍS. The 5-1 Champions League win over Feyenoord and eight consecutive LaLiga wins give Barcelona nine straight victories across both competitions. The 3-0 win over Getafe equalled the club's best LaLiga start, matching the record set under Tata Martino. Hansi Flick's side average 4.33 goals per match and sit top on their own, five points ahead of Atlético and Real Betis and six ahead of Real Madrid. Galatasaray's attack includes Victor Osimhen, Rafael Leão, Leroy Sané and Gabriel Sara, a line-up El Confidencial describes as the most potent attack Barcelona have faced so far this season.
Four matches in 12 days
After Istanbul, Barcelona face Real Betis at La Cartuja in Seville at the weekend of 17-18 October, PSG in Paris on Tuesday, 20 October, and Real Madrid in the Clásico at the Spotify Camp Nou on 25 October. El Confidencial calls this a run of four demanding matches in 12 days. A win over Real Betis would equal the nine straight league wins that Real Madrid, under Miguel Muñoz, set in the 1968-69 season, a Spanish football record.
- Champions League match at Galatasaray in Istanbul, kickoff at 21:00
- LaLiga match at Real Betis at La Cartuja in Seville
- Champions League match against PSG in Paris
- Clásico against Real Madrid at the Spotify Camp Nou
Raphinha's thigh injury and return to the pitch
Raphinha started working on the grass at the training ground on Monday, 12 October, while the squad flew to Turkey. He had a muscle edema in the back of his right thigh during the international break with Brazil, where he played 135 minutes across two friendlies and scored one goal before returning early to Barcelona. It is the third injury Raphinha has suffered with the national team, and the club's medical staff have followed the results of his scans closely. Raphinha is the club's top scorer with 14 goals across LaLiga and the Champions League. Joan Laporta said on Saturday, 10 October, in Sitges that, according to the club's medical services, Raphinha will be available for the match at PSG on 20 October. Laporta also criticised the schedule of the international calendar:
We will try to make the international bodies understand that these breaks are harmful.
Frenkie de Jong's recovery and his role in defence
Frenkie de Jong is recovering from a ligament injury to the internal lateral ligament of his right knee, sustained during the World Cup, and chose not to have surgery. He has completed six days of training, but he has not yet received his medical clearance and is expected to travel to Seville on Saturday, 17 October. Flick is testing him as a centre-back following Christensen's injury, while the midfield has an overlap of players. Rodri's presence alongside Pedri in midfield leaves De Jong's starting place in doubt, and the coaching staff are considering playing him next to Cubarsí in defence. Cubarsí avoided the subject when asked before the match at the RAMS Park, but he said:
He has a spectacular level, but in his position he is one of the best in the world and he will give his level in that position; it will be very important for the squad.
Anthony Gordon and the wider squad
Flick asked for Anthony Gordon as a reinforcement after being impressed by the English forward in Barcelona's matches against Newcastle last season, and Deco accepted the proposal. Earlier, Laporta had publicly backed a move for Julián Álvarez, while the sporting department was quietly working on Gordon. Flick has also praised Raphinha in public and has described Gabriel Jesus's form as a surprise, while stating that the decision on whether Jesus starts as the number nine will be made after the final training session.
A 2022 echo in Istanbul
The last time Barcelona played at Galatasaray's Ali Sami Yen, on 17 March 2022 in the Europa League last-16 second leg, they won 1-2. Ousmane Dembélé came on at half-time for Adama Traoré, who had joined on loan from Wolverhampton in the January window, and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scored the winner. Eric García, Pedri and Gavi from that squad remain at the club, and Frenkie de Jong also played that day. Dembélé is now a double European champion and Ballon d'Or winner with PSG under Luis Enrique, while Traoré has just joined Deportivo, where he has already played briefly. Aubameyang, now at Deportivo, is currently injured.
