Raphinha has no doubt Barcelona are more than good enough to take on Real Madrid at home and abroad after their emphatic 7-0 demolition of Real Valladolid.
Barca made it four wins out of four under Hansi Flick in LaLiga and Raphinha shone brightest in a sparkling display as the Brazil winger plundered a hat-trick,
It means the Blaugrana are already seven point better off than bitter rivals Madrid, who host Real Betis on Sunday.
Kylian Mbappe’s arrival at the Santiago Bernabeu and Barcelona’s ongoing financial turmoil off the pitch meant plenty of pre-season predictions that anticipated Los Blancos cruising to the title.
Although it’s very early days, the initial signs suggest something quite different might unfold.
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Barca’s headline acquisition of the transfer window, Dani Olmo, scored his second goal in as many appearances — that’s two more than Mbappe in LaLiga so far.
Summer speculation also linked Barcelona with a move for Nico Williams to re-create the Athletic Club winger’s devastating Euro 2024 link-up with Lamine Yamal.
Had that transfer come to pass, it would have left Raphinha as the odd man out and the former Leeds United hero is clearly determined to leave no doubts over his own ample qualities.
"Today's game has taught us that there is no need for other players to arrive. We are in very good shape,” he told reporters.
“The team is giving its best in the games and in the training sessions. Today's result shows what we're working on."
Barcelona resume after the September international break with a Catalan derby against Girona.
