Barcelona captain Mr Raphinha has insisted that the club’s 4-2 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain in the UEFA Champions League will not affect its preparations for Sunday’s El Clásico against Real Madrid.
The Brazilian forward made the declaration after Barcelona suffered their first defeat of the 2026/27 season at the hands of the reigning European champions at the Parc des Princes on Tuesday.
Speaking after the encounter, Raphinha played down the significance of the loss, saying Barcelona remained capable of competing against Europe’s best teams.
Raphinha acknowledged that Barcelona had hoped to secure a victory or at least a draw in Paris but maintained that losing to a team of PSG’s quality was a possibility.
“We knew it could happen. We’re facing the two-time European champions at their home ground. They’re very strong. Obviously, we wanted to come away with a win or at least a point, but it’s not the end of the world,” he said.
The Barcelona captain added that the team had dropped only three points and would now concentrate on identifying areas for improvement before facing their fierce rivals.
He also described the encounter as a useful test of Barcelona’s ability to compete against a well-organised opponent.
Barcelona showed they can compete
Despite the defeat, Raphinha maintained that Barcelona had performed well against PSG, particularly in a contest involving two teams that favour possession-based football.
“They’re a very well-coached team. Despite the result, we competed well. They’re both teams that like to have possession. I think it was a good test, and it shows we can compete. I think we played well,” he said.
PSG secured the 4-2 victory through goals from Désiré Doué, Lucas Hernández, Vitinha and Fabián Ruiz, while Barcelona’s goals came from Xavi Espart and Lamine Yamal.
The result ended Barcelona’s unbeaten start to the campaign, but Raphinha remained confident that the setback would not derail the team’s immediate objectives.
Raphinha focuses on El Clásico
The forward also discussed his return to the starting line-up after an injury lay-off, explaining that he had spent less than a week training before the PSG encounter.
Raphinha said he finished the match feeling physically strong and was now focused on improving his fitness ahead of the weekend’s showdown.
“I think I’ve had less than a week of training and this was expected to happen. I finished the match feeling good, strong, and now I’m focused on getting in better physical shape for the Clásico,” he said.
Asked whether the defeat would affect Barcelona’s preparations for the match against Real Madrid, Raphinha gave a firm response.
“This doesn’t affect the Clásico at all,” he declared.
Flick keeps focus on Sunday’s clash
Barcelona manager Mr Hansi Flick also looked ahead to the El Clásico, confirming that midfielder Rodri had been rested against PSG after playing significant minutes for his national team.
Flick said the decision was intended to ensure the midfielder was fresh for Sunday’s encounter.
Barcelona will host Real Madrid at Camp Nou on 25 October, with both sides preparing for one of the most anticipated fixtures in Spanish football.
Having suffered their first defeat of the season in Paris, Barcelona will now aim to respond positively against their long-standing rivals.
Discover more from VOICE OF THE PEOPLE
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
