Raphinha, the Barcelona winger, has given a warning to Real Madrid ahead of the first El Clasico of the 2022/23 La Liga season this weekend. This Sunday, Real Madrid will meet Barcelona at the Santiago Bernabeu in the greatest match of the Spanish football calendar.
It will be a top-of-the-table showdown, as Barça and Real are the top two teams in La Liga, with the Catalans leading their old rivals on goal difference.
What has Raphinha said before the El Clasico?
In the run-up to the game, Barcelona’s new addition Raphinha has delivered a strong warning to Real Madrid, claiming that the reigning Spanish and European champions should be concerned.
And a win here would put them three points ahead of Xavi Hernandez’s team in the championship battle. The Brazilian winger told Movistar+ that “We are the leaders. If there is any team that must be careful, it is them”.
Raphinha appears to be confident coming into El Clasico, despite what transpired against Inter Milan on Wednesday, based on his statements.
Barcelona were denied to a 3-3 draw by the Nerazzurri in the UEFA Champions League, putting them on the verge of elimination. Following the game, captain Sergio Busquets said that the outcome might have an impact on the team’s psyche heading into Sunday’s Clasico.
Raphinha, who will be making his competitive El Clasico debut, appears to have moved on from the Inter Milan catastrophe and is ready to face Real Madrid.
After a promising start to life in Barcelona, the Brazilian’s form has dipped in recent weeks. And Xavi and company will be hoping that he rediscovers his mojo at the Bernabeu this weekend. It will be interesting to observe how Barcelona performs on the day. They’ve been hit or miss thus far in the season.
And they have yet to rise to the occasion, having previously been defeated by Inter Milan and Bayern Munich in the current season. It remains to be seen whether Real Madrid can get the better of Xavi’s side, who are obviously struggling in defence with several important players out injured.
Raphinha, on the other hand, has hardly lit up La Liga since his big money move from Leeds United in the summer, and has only one goal to his name in a Barcelona shirt.
