Barcelona head into Saturday's trip to Betis with the encouraging sign that Raphinha and Frenkie de Jong are close to returning, just as Hansi Flick prepares for a demanding run of matches in LaLiga and Europe.
The timing matters. Barcelona beat Galatasaray 4-1 in Estambul on Tuesday in the Champions League, and they now travel to Betis in the ninth round of LaLiga 2026/27 on Saturday, October 17. With ten victories in ten official matches and 24 points at the top of the table, Barcelona have started strongly, but the schedule is about to become far less forgiving.
Raphinha is back in group training
Thursday brought the clearest positive update for Barcelona, with Raphinha completing a training session alongside his teammates after several days of individual work. That does not guarantee he will start against Betis, but it does suggest he is moving back into contention at an important moment.
Frenkie de Jong is also close to a return, giving Flick the possibility of adding another important option before a sequence that includes PSG and Real Madrid after the Betis match. In a period like this, squad depth becomes more than a comfort; it becomes part of the plan.
Why the next week matters
Barcelona's current position is strong enough to invite confidence, but the challenge now is keeping the standard high when the opposition and the pressure both increase. Betis are not arriving quietly either, after beating Osasuna 5-2 and Porto 3-2, so this is not the kind of fixture that allows Flick to look too far ahead.
For Barcelona, the immediate question is which of their returning players can be trusted to contribute straight away, and how much risk makes sense before the bigger tests arrive. The answer will shape not only the trip to Betis, but also the way the team is managed through the matches that follow.
