Real Madrid are preparing for arguably the biggest game of the season, and Jose Mourinho’s team will want the three points on their trip to the Spotify Camp Nou.
Ahead of the game, Barcelona captain Raphinha has shared his thoughts on Real Madrid’s preparations for El Clasico.
The Brazilian has spoken about his compatriot Vinicius Junior’s suspension, Fede Valverde’s versatility and Jose Mourinho’s return to the Camp Nou.
Raphinha refuses to underestimate Madrid without Vinicius
The Brazilian winger was asked whether Vinicius’ absence would benefit Barcelona, and Raphinha refused to underestimate Los Blancos.
“I can’t say his absence will be good for us, because Real Madrid ultimately have many players capable of deciding matches,” Raphinha explained (h/t FCB World).
“It’s true that Vini won’t be there, but there are other players who can play in his position and make the difference in a match of this magnitude.”
Raphinha refuses to underestimate Real Madrid despite the absence of Vinicius Jr. (Photo by Edilzon Gamez/Getty Images)
His words reflect the quality and depth Madrid have in their attack and the threat they can pose to their opponents.
Mourinho can turn to alternative attacking options, including Yan Diomande, while Kylian Mbappe remains a major threat through the middle.
For Madrid, the challenge is finding the right attacking balance rather than simply replacing Vinicius’ individual qualities.
Valverde earns praise as Mourinho prepares for Camp Nou return
Raphinha was particularly complimentary about Valverde, who could feature at right-back rather than in his usual midfield role.
“Fede can make runs from midfield and give the team plenty of options when he plays at full-back,” the Brazilian said.
“He’s an incredible player who performs brilliantly in midfield and also does an excellent job out wide.”
Raphinha also named the Uruguayan and Jude Bellingham as the engines that keep Madrid functioning.
Raphinha is full of praise for his counterpart, Fede Valverde. (Photo by Yasser Bakhsh/Getty Images)
Asked about Mourinho’s return to the Camp Nou, Raphinha admitted he could not predict the reception the former Madrid manager would receive.
“When Mourinho was here before, I wasn’t around, so I can’t tell you what to expect from the fans,”he explained.
“What I want is for our supporters to be behind us from beginning to end, whatever happens during the match.”
Those last quotes from Raphinha highlight the challenge that lies ahead for Jose Mourinho’s team later today.
Barcelona will have home support and a six-point league advantage, even if Raphinha recognises Madrid’s strengths.
Los Blancos need to play a near-perfect game to get the three points against Barça, and it remains to be seen how the game plays out.