According to a report by Barca Universal on Wednesday October 21, 2026, Barcelona captain Raphinha has insisted that his side’s 4-2 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain will not affect their preparations for Sunday’s El Clasico against Real Madrid.

The Catalan giants suffered their first defeat of the 2026/27 season against the reigning European champions, but Raphinha believes Barcelona can take encouragement from their performance despite the disappointing result.

Speaking after the match, the Brazilian acknowledged the difficulty of facing PSG on their home ground but insisted that Barcelona showed they could compete against one of Europe’s strongest teams.

“We knew it could happen; we’re facing the two-time European champions, and playing in front of their fans is very tough,” Raphinha said.

The Barcelona captain admitted that his team wanted to secure a victory or at least a draw but played down the significance of losing three points.

He also praised PSG’s tactical organisation, arguing that Barcelona competed well in possession despite the defeat.

“They are a very well-drilled side. Despite today’s result, we competed well. Both teams like to play with the ball and we had possession,” he added.

“It was a good test and shows we can compete. The result doesn’t matter, but we played well.”

Raphinha’s comments come at a crucial moment for Hansi Flick’s side, who must quickly turn their attention to their meeting with Real Madrid.

Asked whether the defeat against PSG could affect Barcelona’s mentality ahead of El Clasico, the forward delivered a defiant response.

“It can’t affect it at all,” he insisted.

The Brazilian also provided an encouraging update on his own fitness after returning to the starting lineup against PSG.

Raphinha revealed that he had completed less than a week of training before the match and that the plan had been to limit his minutes as he continued building his fitness.

“I finished the match feeling good and strong, and I’m trying to improve my physical condition further,” he said.

His return could prove important for Barcelona against Real Madrid, although Flick may continue to manage his workload carefully.

Meanwhile, Raphinha admitted that he did not yet know the details of Dani Olmo’s injury after the midfielder was forced off during the PSG encounter.

“I don’t know what happened to Dani, and now we’ll speak to the manager and the doctor to find out what happened,” he explained.

Olmo’s condition is another concern for Flick ahead of Sunday’s showdown, with initial reports suggesting that the midfielder could face several weeks out if a suspected muscle tear is confirmed.

Barcelona will now assess their performance against PSG and work on the areas that need improvement before facing their fiercest rivals.

Despite the European setback, Raphinha remains confident that the result will not derail the team’s preparations, insisting that Barcelona must learn from the defeat and approach El Clasico with the right mentality.