Raphinha warns Martínez Munuera over marking during Sevilla-Barça

During Sevilla-Barça, Raphinha warned Martínez Munuera: “Try to keep an eye on the blocks and the shirt-pulling, because they are going to break our backs.” The FC Barcelona captain was asking the referee to pay closer attention to the physical approach of the opposing players.

According to footage of the exchange, Martínez Munuera replied: “Yes, we are monitoring it. We have seen it and I have told them as well.” Raphinha then insisted: “Pay attention, because as soon as you call one or two fouls, they will stop doing it.” The referee concluded: “Perfect, thank you.”

The sequence was made visible through footage from the referee’s camera broadcast by DAZN. It also showed another exchange involving Raphinha and Fofana, before a Barcelona free-kick near the Sevilla penalty area. Martínez Munuera addressed both players: “Fofana, Rapha, Rapha. Listen, both of you: he grabs hold of you and you break free from him. That is not football, that is not football, that is called judo.”

On the pitch, Barcelona won 3-1 after a very even first half in which Sevilla had taken the lead, followed by a second half clearly dominated by Barça. Raphinha completed a perfect hat-trick, scoring with his right foot, with his head and with his left foot, and extended his lead at the top of the scoring charts to 12 goals.