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Barcelona boss Xavi calms Raphinha injury fears ahead of Napoli clash

:Headline: Barcelona boss Xavi calms Raphinha injury fears ahead of Napoli clash:
Barcelona head coach Xavi says that he substituted Raphinha against Mallorca on Friday evening as a "precaution".
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Barcelona head coach Xavi has said that he substituted Raphinha against Mallorca on Friday evening as a "precaution", with the attacker expected to be available for next week's clash with Napoli.

The Brazil international was replaced in the latter stages of the first half against Mallorca after taking a blow to his ankle, and there had been fears that he could now be set for another spell on the sidelines.

However, Xavi said after his side's 1-0 victory that Raphinha had not picked up an injury, with the decision to replace him purely precautionary.

The forward is expected to be fit for Tuesday's Champions League last-16 second leg with Napoli, with Barcelona bidding to book their spot in the quarter-finals of the competition.

"Raphinha's substitution was for precaution. It was just a blow, in principle he's not injured," said the Catalan outfit's head coach after the narrow success over Mallorca.

The 27-year-old has spent two separate periods on the sidelines this season with muscular issues, but he has still managed to contribute five goals and eight assists in 26 appearances in all competitions.

Frenkie de Jong, Pedri, Alejandro Balde, Marcos Alonso and Gavi remain unavailable for selection, but there is a chance that Ferran Torres could recover from a thigh injury in time for the European contest.

Barcelona's 1-0 win over Mallorca, which was secured courtesy of a 73rd-minute effort from Lamine Yamal, moved the reigning champions into second position in the table, five points behind leaders Real Madrid.

The Catalan outfit are unbeaten in their last eight matches in all competitions, but they have only scored once in their last two games, and Xavi has said that the team "lack effectiveness in front of goal".

"We still lack effectiveness in front of goal. We created four or five chances against a team that barely concedes chances," he added during his post-match press conference.

"I suffered today, yes. Same story all season. We created enough chances to win by more than one goal. Scoring the penalty would have completely changed the match. Our effectiveness has cost us again.

"We created a lot of chances against a team that doesn't concede many of them. We were calm and patient. We played a solid match against a well-prepared opponent. It's very difficult to attack their 5-3-2.

"Our defensive feelings are very good. We have improved a lot in this aspect, that's how we're winning matches. Mallorca were equal to us a lot of the time because [Javier] Aguirre prepares his teams very well."

Barcelona are level at 1-1 with Napoli ahead of the second leg of their last-16 Champions League affair, with Victor Osimhen scoring for the Italian champions in the first leg after Robert Lewandowski had sent the Catalan giants into the lead in Naples.

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Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Real Madrid28216160184269
2GironaGirona28195459332662
3Barcelona28187357342361
4Atletico MadridAtletico28174754312355
5Athletic Bilbao28158548262253
6Real Sociedad28111074031943
7Real BetisBetis28101263431342
8Valencia2711793231140
9Las PalmasLas Palmas28107112931-237
10Osasuna28106123139-836
11Villarreal2898114651-535
12Getafe2881193642-635
13AlavesAlaves2888122633-732
14Sevilla28610123542-728
15Mallorca28512112435-1127
16Rayo Vallecano28511122338-1526
17Celta Vigo2859143043-1324
18CadizCadiz28313122038-1822
19Granada2728173057-2714
20Almeria28010182757-3010
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