According to a report by Barca Universal on Wednesday October 21, 2026, after Barcelona's 4-2 Champions League loss to Paris Saint-Germain, forward Raphinha allegedly spoke to his teammates in the locker room, telling them to put Sunday's El Clasico against Real Madrid behind them and to forget about the setback.

The Brazilian reportedly tried to boost the team's morale and reassure them that their confidence would be unaffected by their defeat in Europe before the important match, as reported by journalist Santi Ovalle of Cadena SER.

Raphinha emphasized the importance of staying calm, believing in the team's work, and focusing on the obstacles that lie ahead. His intervention could be crucial for Hansi Flick's Barcelona squad as they prepare to face their biggest domestic rivals just days after their loss to PSG.

The forward's moves also show how much of an impact he's having on the Barcelona team. Raphinha, who started again against PSG, accepted blame for the disappointing outcome and urged his teammates to bounce back.

With limited time to regroup after their loss in Europe, Barcelona must seize the opportunity to reclaim momentum in the forthcoming El Clasico. The Catalan team will enter the match with the mindset that a victory could inspire faith in the team and its fans.

Within the Barcelona camp, there is a belief that their performance against PSG was impacted by several circumstances. Problems arose for Flick's squad because Jules Kounde and Eric Garcia were out with injuries.

The question of how Barcelona's performance would have changed had they had access to more players has arisen in response to these concerns.

Raphinha takes the helm at a pivotal point in the campaign. The Brazilian is slowly but surely becoming an integral part of the team again after sitting out a chunk of the season with injury.

His impact against Real Madrid may go beyond what he does on the field. For another nail-biting match, Barcelona will need the poise of their more seasoned players.

Even though Flick will choose his starting lineup depending on the available players, Raphinha is expected to have a significant role at the Spotify Camp Nou.

After losing in Europe, Barcelona must now bounce back with a bang. A win against Real Madrid would show the team can bounce back from losses and give them a much-needed boost.