In the third round of the Champions League group stage, Barcelona suffered their first loss of the season, falling 2-4 away to Paris Saint-Germain. Afterwards, Barça forward Raphinha spoke with TNT Sports Brazil, discussing the end of their winning streak, his feelings about being substituted early, and the upcoming El Clásico.
Reporter: Raphinha, thank you for this live interview with TNT Sports. This must be a particularly tough match for you, especially since you were undefeated this season until now. Your winning streak has ended, and Barcelona's unbeaten run is over.
Raphinha: To be honest, we knew this would happen sooner or later. After all, we were facing two-time European champions, and we were playing at their home ground. We knew how strong they are there. So we knew losing was a possibility, but we never gave up on playing our own style on the pitch. This was a match between two teams that fought hard for possession throughout.
So I think it was an excellent match, very evenly contested. Obviously, the final goal made the scoreline look a bit lopsided, but I believe the game itself was quite tight. However, we were mentally prepared for this; ultimately, it's just losing three points, and that's perfectly fine. There are many more matches ahead.
Reporter: Before the match, many people were saying this was the best Barcelona team this season, up against one of the world's top teams, as you said, two-time Champions League winners. Raphinha, after a match like that, as soon as the whistle blew, did you immediately want to play them again?
Raphinha: Absolutely. Actually, when the coach substituted me, I was a bit frustrated because I felt I could have played a few more minutes. Obviously, as a player, you always want to stay on the field, especially in such an important match. But it's nothing; as I said, it's just one game in a long season. My physical condition is gradually recovering, so the limited playing time was actually planned. But it really was the kind of match where you finish and immediately want to play again.
Reporter: Do you think you'll meet again in this season's Champions League?
Raphinha: Ha, it's entirely possible, why not? After all, as I said, they are two-time European champions, and our goal is also to win the title. So the chances of two teams aiming for the Champions League trophy meeting again are very high.
Reporter: Last question: You're facing Real Madrid next. This is quite a demanding week, with Paris Saint-Germain followed by Real Madrid. Can you play the full 90 minutes against Real Madrid? What are your expectations for El Clásico?
Raphinha: I'm always ready. While I don't know if my legs will hold up, I'm always prepared to play the full 90 minutes. It's a tough week, but I think we're well-prepared for this week of big matches.
Reporter: So against Real Madrid, can you extend your unbeaten record in La Liga?
Raphinha: We are currently still unbeaten in the league, and we will do our best to keep that streak going.
AF's PC site is now live! Browse full news, comments, match details and stats on your computer. Visit: www.allfootballapp.com