Barcelona captain Raphinha has insisted that his team’s 4-2 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain in the UEFA Champions League will not affect their preparations for Sunday’s El Clásico against Real Madrid, backing the Catalan giants to respond positively to their first loss of the 2026/27 campaign.
The Brazilian forward played down the significance of Tuesday’s setback at the Parc des Princes, arguing that Barcelona had competed well against the reigning European champions despite conceding four goals.
With one of the biggest fixtures in Spanish football approaching, Raphinha believes the defeat should serve as a learning opportunity rather than a reason for concern as Hansi Flick’s side prepare to face their fiercest domestic rivals.
Barcelona arrived in Paris enjoying an impressive run of 11 consecutive victories across competitions, but their momentum was halted by a PSG side that demonstrated its attacking quality and ability to punish defensive weaknesses.
The hosts took the lead through Désiré Doué in the 38th minute, capitalising on their attacking pressure to put Barcelona on the back foot. However, the visitors responded through teenage midfielder Xavi Espart, who marked his first Champions League start with an equaliser.
Barcelona subsequently found renewed confidence, with Lamine Yamal helping to drive their attacking efforts as they sought to take control of the contest.
Nevertheless, PSG regained the advantage through goals from Lucas Hernández, Vitinha and Fabián Ruiz, while Barcelona’s second goal was not enough to prevent a damaging defeat. The result extended PSG’s winning run against the Catalan club to three consecutive matches.
Speaking after the game, Raphinha acknowledged the difficulty of facing a team of PSG’s quality on its home ground but insisted that Barcelona should not allow the result to overshadow their progress.
“We knew it could happen. We’re facing the two-time European champions at their home ground. They’re very strong,” the Brazilian said, as reported by Spanish media.
He admitted that Barcelona had travelled to Paris hoping to secure a victory or at least a draw, but maintained that losing three points in the Champions League would not derail their wider ambitions.
The captain also defended his team’s performance, suggesting that the encounter demonstrated their ability to compete with Europe’s leading clubs.
Despite the four goals conceded, Raphinha believed Barcelona showed encouraging signs in their approach to the game, particularly in their efforts to control possession and challenge PSG’s defensive structure.
He described the match as a useful test for Flick’s squad, which is seeking to establish itself among the leading contenders for European football’s biggest club prize.
The defeat, however, highlighted defensive issues that Barcelona will need to address before facing Real Madrid. PSG exploited spaces in the visitors’ defensive structure, reinforcing concerns about the risks associated with Flick’s aggressive playing philosophy against elite opposition.
Barcelona must now find the right balance between their attacking ambitions and defensive discipline if they are to avoid similar problems against Madrid.
Raphinha’s personal condition will also be an important consideration ahead of the weekend encounter. The forward returned to Barcelona’s starting line-up against PSG after a period of injury-related absence and revealed that he had completed less than a week of training before the match.
Despite the limited preparation, he finished the contest feeling physically strong and expressed confidence that additional training sessions would help him improve his condition before the Clásico.
His return is a welcome development for Flick, particularly with Barcelona preparing for a match that could have significant implications for the La Liga title race.
The manager has also indicated that he carefully managed the workload of midfielder Rodri, who was rested against PSG following his international commitments, with the intention of keeping him fresh for Sunday’s fixture.
Barcelona will host Real Madrid on October 25, with both sides expected to approach the encounter with considerable determination. For the Catalan club, the immediate priority will be recovering from the European disappointment while correcting the defensive weaknesses exposed in Paris.
For Madrid, the Clásico presents an opportunity to take advantage of Barcelona’s recent setback and deliver a significant result against their historic rivals.
Raphinha, however, remains convinced that the defeat will have no negative effect on Barcelona’s preparations.
The Brazilian’s message reflects the mentality Flick will want his players to demonstrate as they return to domestic action: acknowledge the mistakes, learn from the experience and move forward without allowing one result to define the season.
Barcelona’s performance against PSG offered both encouragement and a warning. Their attacking quality remains evident, but the challenge of converting promising spells into consistent results against Europe’s strongest sides is still unresolved.
Sunday’s meeting with Real Madrid will provide another demanding test of their progress. For Raphinha and his teammates, the task is to ensure that the lessons learned in Paris translate into a more disciplined and effective performance when the two Spanish giants meet.
