La Liga: PSG Defeat Will Not Affect El Clásico — Raphinha

Barcelona captain Raphinha has insisted that his side’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.

The Brazilian forward made the remarks after Barcelona suffered their first defeat of the 2026/2027 campaign, losing to the reigning European champions at the Parc des Princes on Tuesday.

Asked whether the loss could affect Barcelona’s mindset ahead of the highly anticipated meeting with their arch rivals, Raphinha dismissed the suggestion.

“No,” he responded, stressing that the team had already shifted its attention to the upcoming encounter.

Raphinha acknowledged PSG’s quality, noting that Barcelona knew the match would be difficult against a team that had won the Champions League twice and enjoyed the advantage of playing at home.

“We knew it could happen. We’re facing the two time European champions at their home ground. They’re very strong,” he said.

He admitted that Barcelona had hoped to leave Paris with either a victory or at least a point but maintained that the defeat should not derail their domestic ambitions.

“We wanted to come away with a win or at least a point, but it’s not the end of the world. This happens when it has to happen. We only dropped three points,” Raphinha added.

Despite the result, the Barcelona captain believed his team had competed well against the French side, pointing to the quality of the contest and the similarities in both teams’ approach to possession football.

He described the encounter as a useful test that showed Barcelona could compete against elite European opposition, despite conceding four goals.

Barcelona scored twice through young talents Xavi Espart and Lamine Yamal, but PSG secured the victory with a strong attacking performance.

The defeat leaves Barcelona needing to regroup quickly as they prepare to host Real Madrid at the Spotify Camp Nou on Sunday, October 25.

The El Clásico is expected to be a major test for both sides, with the traditional rivals seeking to strengthen their position in the La Liga title race.

Raphinha expressed confidence that Barcelona could learn from the setback and arrive at the weekend fixture ready to compete, insisting that the European defeat would have no negative impact on their preparations for the Spanish showdown.