Barcelona Captain Raphinha Shrugs Off PSG Defeat Before El Clasico

No Panic After Paris

Barcelona saw their winning run of 11 matches end with a 4-2 defeat against Paris Saint-Germain. Captain Raphinha insists the squad is not rattled by the result as they prepare to face Real Madrid.

The Brazilian forward explained that a loss was bound to happen at some point. He pointed out that they were playing against the two time European champions on their home turf. Barcelona never stopped trying to play their way, and Raphinha felt it was a balanced game. He added that dropping three points is no big deal because there are more games ahead.

Barcelona currently hold a six point lead over Real Madrid at the top of LaLiga. Raphinha made it clear that their domestic unbeaten run remains intact, and the players will do everything they can to keep it going.

Fitness and European Ambitions

The match in Paris marked Raphinha's return to the starting lineup following a thigh injury picked up during the international window. He was taken off after 60 minutes of play.

Raphinha admitted he felt a bit annoyed when the coach took him off, as he wanted to stay on the pitch during such a big game. Still, he recognized that playing limited minutes was always the plan as he works toward full fitness.

Looking ahead, Raphinha suggested that Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain could meet again in the Champions League final. He pointed out that both sides are targeting the European title, meaning another clash remains a strong possibility.

What it means for the next game

Paris Saint-Germain vs Lyon (Ligue 1, Sun, 25 Oct): Paris Saint-Germain win 61%, draw 20%, Lyon win 18%; expected goals 2.26 to 1.17. Our safest pick: Over 1.5 goals.

Barcelona vs Real Madrid (LaLiga, Sun, 25 Oct): Barcelona win 62%, draw 19%, Real Madrid win 20%; expected goals 2.62 to 1.46. Our safest pick: Barcelona or Draw.