Raphinha Leads Barcelona's Attack as Jesus Awaits His Chance

Barcelona head to Mestalla on Sunday with top spot in La Liga within reach, but Hansi Flick is not planning on a bold gamble up front.

The German coach signalled that teenage Egyptian striker Hamza Abdelkarim is likely to miss out on the starting XI against Valencia, even though new signing Gabriel Jesus is not yet ready to lead the line from the first whistle.

Real Madrid’s 1-0 defeat to Real Betis on Friday has cracked the door open. A win in Valencia would send Barça clear at the summit after four rounds. Flick, though, is choosing control over romance.

Jesus to be eased in

Gabriel Jesus only arrived from Arsenal on Tuesday. Flick used his pre-match press conference to cool expectations around the Brazilian’s immediate impact, while still leaving the door open for a cameo.

“Of course, he is not 100% ready, but he is prepared to play for a few minutes. We will see how the match goes. It is good to see the way he has worked and how calm he is,” Flick said, as reported by AS.

The message is clear: Jesus is an option off the bench, not a starter. Any decisive contribution at Mestalla is likely to come in short bursts rather than over 90 minutes.

Raphinha locked in as central spearhead

If there was any doubt about who will start through the middle, Flick removed it. Hamza Abdelkarim, who played just four minutes in the recent win over Rayo Vallecano, will not be thrust into the spotlight. The role belongs, for now, to another Brazilian.

“At this moment, I think he (Raphinha) is the best option,” Flick stated. “He initiates the dynamism of the play and the press and gives us speed. For me, he is the best option we have in this position at the moment.”

It is hard to argue. Raphinha has exploded out of the blocks this season, scoring five goals in Barça’s first three league games, more than any other player in La Liga. His movement, aggression in the press and willingness to run in behind have convinced Flick to keep him central, even with a natural No 9 like Hamza waiting in the wings and Jesus now in the squad.

For Hamza, the message is more long-term. His four-minute outing against Rayo underlined how far down the pecking order he currently sits in big league fixtures.

Koundé’s versatility still valued

Flick also addressed the situation of Jules Koundé, who has not been part of the starting XI at the beginning of this campaign but remains firmly in his manager’s plans.

“He is an incredibly professional player,” Flick said. “He has not started the matches, but that represents a challenge for him. His task is to reach his best level, as he was in the 2024-2025 season. He can play well in both positions, but as is always the case, the team is the most important thing.”

Centre-back or right-back, starter or substitute, Koundé is being pushed to respond. Just as Raphinha has seized his chance through the middle, others now face the same demand as Barça chase top spot and try to set the tone for the rest of their season.