Raphinha praised the significance of Barcelona’s 3-1 victory over Atlético Madrid at Spotify Camp Nou on Tuesday, emphasizing that such wins can be pivotal in a title race. This triumph enabled Barcelona to extend their lead to four points atop LaLiga.
Álex Baena put Atlético in front in the 19th minute, but Raphinha equalized just seven minutes later. After receiving a pass from Pedri, he skillfully rounded Jan Oblak to score.
Although Robert Lewandowski missed a penalty before halftime, he was able to redeem himself when Dani Olmo scored shortly after the hour mark, followed by Ferran Torres adding a late goal in stoppage time to cap the win.
“I think we’re growing in confidence with each game,” Raphinha said after the match, which widened Barça’s lead over Real Madrid, who are due to face Athletic Club on Wednesday. “We understood the magnitude of this match in LaLiga. It’s the kind of victory that can determine the title race. If we continue to collect points, our position will only improve.”
Raphinha’s comeback has reenergized Barcelona’s performance, a boost they missed during his two-month injury absence. Additionally, Pedri’s first start since October further established better control in the midfield.
Diego Simeone, Atlético’s coach, expressed amazement that Raphinha hasn’t received the top individual accolades for his performances under Hansi Flick. “I love him,” he remarked. “He can play anywhere on the pitch—wing, wing-back, or central positions. He scores and applies pressure effectively. I can’t understand how he missed out on the Ballon d’Or.”
Barça’s coach Flick is equally thrilled to have Raphinha back, following a sixth consecutive victory since their loss to Real Madrid. “Rapha is crucial for us,” Flick said in a press conference. “His presence elevates our dynamics and intensity, impacting the entire team positively. Today, he brought amazing contributions that were vital to our success.”
Flick added, “This was one of our best performances of the season, and securing all three points is essential. We’re on a path back to our best form, and it was gratifying to witness.” While both Raphinha and Pedri were substituted in the 70th minute due to fatigue, Olmo may face a longer absence with a shoulder injury sustained while scoring the second goal.
After Raphinha and Pedri’s exit, Barcelona finished with a midfield trio of Eric García, Marc Casadó, and Dro Fernández, while Atlético pressed for an equalizer. Substitutes Thiago Almada and Antoine Griezmann missed critical opportunities to equalize before Torres’ late goal inflicted Atlético’s first defeat since the opening week of the season against Espanyol.
“I was pleased with the team’s performance today, so I’m satisfied,” Simeone noted. “The players gave maximum effort, and I appreciated their fearless attitude in pursuit of the equalizer. We competed well, starting determined with effective pressing that led to our goal. They threatened us with their penetrating passes, which we addressed at halftime. They had more chances early in the second half, but we missed three good opportunities to equalize. Ultimately, I feel 3-1 does not accurately reflect the match’s outcome.”