BREAKING NEWS: coming from Fabrizio Romano, “every time he’s on that pitch he’s does incredible stuff and his work rate is unmatched. He just make things easy for the the team he’s undroppable”. Barcelona’s stat-busting star is unstoppable after an “outstanding” performance against PSG. The player won “100%” of his aerial duels and had “46 touches”, making him undroppable for the next game. The player’s incredible display was a joy to behold, and has captivated Barcelona fans. “Stat-Busting’ ‘Irresistible’ Barcelona Star is ‘Unstoppable’ After ‘Outstanding’ Performance against ParisSaint-Germain”.
Barcelona’s winger, Raphinha, has emphasized his commitment to the club following his stellar performance in a 3-2 victory against Paris Saint-Germain (PSG). The Brazilian was instrumental in Barcelona’s triumph at the Parc des Princes on Wednesday (April 10), securing a brace and earning the title of man-of-the-match. His exceptional display ensured that the La Liga side holds the advantage in their UEFA Champions League quarterfinal tie as they approach the second leg on April 16.
In the 37th minute, the 27-year-old initiated the scoring with a superb finish after PSG failed to clear their defensive lines. Later, in the 62nd minute, Raphinha netted Barcelona’s equalizer, leveling the score at 2-2 with an audacious volley following a collaboration with Pedri. Despite enduring a challenging season with the Catalan giants, Raphinha expressed his delight with the victory and his double. Amid speculation surrounding his future and Barcelona’s willingness to entertain offers to alleviate financial strains, Raphinha reassured his commitment to the club. He stated (as reported by transfer expert Fabrizio Romano), “It’s a special night for me. I still have more years on my contract and I plan to fulfill them. I will do my best to stay here at Barca for many years!”
Having featured 30 times across various competitions this season, Raphinha has contributed eight goals and 10 assists. Despite adapting to a new position on the left flank to accommodate Barcelona’s emerging talent, Lamine Yamal, Raphinha continues to make a significant impact.
Meanwhile, Barcelona boss Xavi expressed pride in his team’s hard-fought victory over PSG. With the second leg set to take place at the Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys, Barcelona secured a comeback win in the 77th minute through second-half substitute Andreas Christensen’s header from an astute Ilkay Gundogan corner. The defensive prowess displayed by Barcelona, particularly with Jules Kounde effectively neutralizing Kylian Mbappe, and Pau Cubarsi’s commendable performance alongside Ronald Araujo in defense, earned accolades from Xavi. He commended the team’s collective effort and resilience, stating (as reported by Football Espana), “We defended well against a difficult team to play against. We prepared well, and I’m proud of the collective work of the team.” Despite departing from Barcelona in the summer, Xavi expressed optimism about the team’s progress, asserting, “We are halfway there (to reaching the semi-finals). We must be proud of the game we have played. PSG is a great team. It’s time to say that Barcelona is alive. The victory generates excitement among our fans.”
Looking ahead, Barcelona will shift their focus to La Liga as they prepare to face Cadiz on Saturday (April 13). It remains to be seen if Xavi will implement any changes ahead of the second leg against PSG.
