Raphinha says PSG loss won't shake Barcelona before El Clásico

Barcelona captain Raphinha has said Tuesday's 4-2 Champions League defeat to Paris Saint-Germain will not disturb his team's build-up to Sunday's El Clásico against Real Madrid.

The Brazilian spoke after the match at the Parc des Princes, where PSG scored through Desire Doué, Lucas Hernandez, Vitinha and Fabián Ruiz. Xavi Espart and Lamine Yamal scored for Barcelona, but it was not enough to stop the hosts from winning.

Asked whether the result could affect the meeting with Madrid, Raphinha gave a one-word answer: “No.” He said Barcelona had held their own against the reigning European champions on their own ground.

“We knew it could happen. We're facing the two-time European champions at their home ground,” he told Movistar, adding that his side had wanted a win or at least a draw but that the loss was “not the end of the world.”

He stressed that only three points were lost and that the squad would take the manager's instructions and prepare for Sunday. “This doesn't affect the Clásico at all,” he said.

Fitness and focus

Raphinha also said he is still building match fitness, having trained for less than a week before the game. He said he felt strong at the final whistle and would now work on his condition ahead of the Madrid match.

He praised PSG's organisation and said the game was a useful measure of where Barcelona stand against one of Europe's strongest sides. He also raised the possibility of meeting PSG again later in the Champions League, saying both teams want the trophy.

Barcelona coach Hansi Flick backed his squad's readiness, saying he deliberately rested midfielder Rodri against PSG. According to Flick, Rodri had played many minutes with the national team and is fresh for Sunday.

What happens next

Barcelona host Real Madrid at Spotify Camp Nou on Sunday in La Liga. A win would steady the club after the European setback; a loss would raise questions about how much the PSG game took out of them.