Raphinha names the only club that can stop Barcelona winning the Champions League this season
Raphinha named the only club who could stop Barcelona winning the Champions League this season - but the Brazilian's prediction for the final is already out the window.
The former Leeds United is Barcelona's captain and has been in sensational form for Hansi Flick's men, with 24 goals and 18 assists in all competitions.
In the Champions League, Raphinha scored eight goals and registered four assists as the Blaugrana finished second in the overall table, winning six games, drawing one and losing one.
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Only Liverpool boasted a better record than Barcelona, who will take on Benfica in the round of 16 in a January rematch of a thrilling nine-goal thriller where Raphinha scored a last-gasp winner.
Back in January, Raphinha gave his thoughts on this season's Champions League and had his say on who he felt Barca would come up against in the final at the Allianz Arena in Munich.
"My prediction for the Champions League final? Barcelona vs. Manchester City," Raphinha said in a video with YouTuber and content creator Adri Conteras in January.
A month later though and City were eliminated from the competition at the knockout play-offs, suffering a 6-3 aggregate defeat to holders and 15-time European champions Real Madrid.
Barcelona's path to the Champions League final
First up for Barcelona is a two-legged tie with Benfica but Barca already know their likely opponents should they progress.
The Catalan giants are slated to face the winner of Borussia Dortmund and Lille in the next round if they win, with one of Bayern Munich, Bayer Leverkusen, Feyenoord and Inter awaiting in the semi-final.
That means that, if successful, Barca will have to brace themselves for a huge showdown in the final on 31 May. They could face an English side in Liverpool or Arsenal, as well as Paris Saint-Germain, managed by former boss Luis Enrique.
However, they could also take on La Liga rivals Real or Atletico, who will continue their Champions League series on Tuesday evening after being paired together in the last 16.
Barca are five time winners of the competition, with their last triumph coming under Enrique when they beat Juventus in 2015.
Topics: Raphinha, Barcelona, La Liga, Champions League
Josh Lawless