Raphinha plays down PSG loss ahead of Clasico

Losing after eleven straight wins stings, but Raphinha doesn't seem interested in making a big deal out of it. Barcelona's captain made clear that the 4-2 defeat to PSG in Paris, which snapped that unbeaten streak, won't be getting inside the team's head ahead of Sunday's Clasico against Real Madrid.

"To be honest, we knew this could happen at some point: suffer our first loss," the Brazilian explained in comments to TNT Sports. And what he says makes sense: facing the two-time reigning European champions on their own turf was never going to be a walk in the park.

"We knew how strong they are here. So even though we knew it was a possibility, we never stopped looking for our own way of playing on the pitch... it was an even match."Raphinha

For Raphinha, the setback is little more than a footnote. "We knew it could happen, and well, at the end of the day it's just three points lost, it's not a big deal. There are more games ahead," he said, reminding anyone looking to spot a crisis that Barcelona remain in first place, sitting six points clear of Real Madrid in the LaLiga standings.

What the captain does admit is that the week ahead is a tough one, packed with heavyweight fixtures. "It's a difficult week, but I think we're well prepared to face this week full of big matches," he said. "Our unbeaten run in LaLiga is still intact, and we'll do everything we can to keep it that way."

Back on the field, on a limited clock

The match against PSG also marked Raphinha's return to the starting lineup after recovering from a thigh injury he'd been carrying since the last FIFA break. Even so, the coach opted to manage his minutes, and the Brazilian forward played just 60 minutes on the pitch.

"The coach took me off, and I was a bit annoyed because I felt like I could have kept going for a few more minutes," he admitted. "You always want to be out there, especially in a game of this magnitude. But it's fine."

Raphinha was candid about his physical condition, saying he still doesn't feel at a hundred percent and accepting that playing fewer minutes was part of the plan. "Like I said, it's just another match; I'm still working to get back to my best physical level. Playing fewer minutes was part of the plan. But when a game like that ends, you just want to get back out there," he said.

A future meeting in the Champions League final?

Looking past the immediate Clasico, Raphinha allowed himself to picture a bigger stage: Barcelona and PSG meeting again, this time in the Champions League final.

"Honestly, it could happen," he said. "Why not? After all, they're the two-time defending champions of Europe, and we also have our sights set on being champions. So since both teams are chasing the Champions League title, there's a very real chance we could cross paths again."