FC Barcelona only needed four goals to force a tie against Atlético Madrid in the Copa del Rey semifinals and avoid elimination. However, despite a very convincing 3-0 performance at the Camp Nou, they ended up being knocked out after the painful 4-0 defeat suffered in the first leg at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano.
Raphinha’s words after the elimination
It is precisely under this scenario that Raphinha spoke after losing the chance to add another title in 2026. The Brazilian winger was the standout performer of the match with a goal scored, so he took the time to analyze what happened, making it clear that all attention now shifts to LaLiga and the UEFA Champions League.
“I leave very proud of this team. If we keep playing like this, we’ll have a spectacular end to the season. I’m sure the fans are proud too-it shows in what happened at the end of the match. We also know there’s a team in front that defends what’s theirs (…) Time to think about the weekend, and what happened today is in the past.”
“Atlético finished the job in the first match-we have to give them credit,” Raphinha continued. “Time to lift our heads. Tomorrow is another day. We have to leave proud of what we’ve done. Now, focus on the weekend. On to the League and the Champions-that’s what we have ahead,” added the Barcelona star.
After this brutal blow in the Spanish Cup, Barcelona still has strong options in both LaLiga title race and the Champions League knockout stage. In the domestic league, Hansi Flick’s team remains leader after 26 matchdays, with 12 games left to play and a four-point advantage over Real Madrid in the standings.
In the 2026 Champions League, the Catalan side secured their spot in the Round of 16, where they will face Newcastle United from the Premier League in what promises to be a high-intensity European showdown.
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