FC Barcelona star Raphinha was caught having a post-match bust up on the touchline following their … More
FC Barcelona star Raphinha was caught having a post-match bust up with a teammate following their side’s frustrating 1-1 draw with Real Betis on Saturday, with the incident caught on camera and shared via social media network X.
Barca was handed a golden opportunity a couple of hours before kick off, as Valencia beat its arch nemesis and title race rival Real Madrid 2-1 at the Bernabeu.
Following that fixture, Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti admitted that reclaiming the Spanish top flight title at the Catalans’ expense will now be more “complicated”.
This is because Barca led by three points at the summit, but it was then handed the chance to make that six by overcoming Betis.
Considering the Blaugrana had done so by a comfortable 5-1 margin in the Copa del Rey last 16 in January, it probably went into the Montjuic meeting confident of getting the job done.
Things looked good when Gavi, who was snatched away by La Masia from its Betis equivalent as a youngster, put the home side 1-0 up inside 17 minutes.
Just 10 after, though, Betis pulled one back through defender Natan and Barca failed to find a winner in either what remained of the first half or the second.
Raphinha was rested with one eye on Wednesday’s Champions League quarterfinal first leg clash against Borussia Dortmund, yet he entered the fray approaching the hour mark.
He was just as ineffective as the rest of his colleagues, however, and finished the proceedings furious with referee Gil Manzano.
Hansi Flick was seen restraining the Brazilian, who headed down the tunnel clearly enraged.
Usual first choice skipper Marc-Andre ter Stegen was seen trying to calm him down, but Raphinha, as shown in a video doing the rounds on X, pushed the sidelined German more than once.
SPORT called it an “ugly gesture” from Raphinha, who hasn’t been himself as of late following Brazil’s 4-1 World Cup qualifying defeat to Argentina.
Maybe it is when he returns to the Champions League midweek, as the top goalscorer on 11 strikes one in front of Dortmund’s Serhou Guirassy and Bayern Munich’s Harry Kane, that he will be back on song.
