Raphinha, Barcelona’s winger and one of the team captains, jumped into a fan Q&A on the club’s YouTube channel earlier today. He didn’t hold back about the team’s chances against Atletico Madrid in the Copa del Rey semi-finals; he flat-out said they believe they can turn things around.

That 4-0 loss at the Metropolitano stung, no question. It crushed a lot of hope about defending the cup. But inside the Barcelona dressing room, there’s still this spark. They honestly think they can pull off a remontada when they play the second leg at Camp Nou next week.

“We trust we can play a great match. We believe we’re capable of doing it. If there’s one team that can come back, it’s us,” Raphinha said, sounding pretty fired up. “We know it’ll be tough and really complicated, but I think we’re ready for whatever comes.”

Now in his fourth season, Raphinha has become a real leader in the squad. He talked about how close everyone is and how that’s been a big reason for their strong run under Hansi Flick the past couple of years.

“The dressing room is great. The players get along really well. We’re like a family. Honestly, we spend more time together than with our own families because of all the trips and training,” he said. “There’s real friendship here, and I think a lot of our success comes from that.”

Talking about wearing the captain’s armband again, Raphinha couldn’t hide how much it means to him. “Being one of Barça’s captains means a lot. Since I arrived, I’ve tried to help however I can. Being captain here is something only a few players ever experience. It’s a huge privilege. I never imagined it, not even in my wildest dreams.”

Last season was like a dream for him; he was involved in 60 goals and barely missed a match. This year? Not so much. Injuries and fitness issues kept him out for 13 games, and he sat on the bench twice without coming on.

“I’ve had tough moments. Players hate injuries because we can’t do what we love. They’re mentally exhausting. Sometimes you don’t even know why you got injured. It’s rough,” he admitted.

But he wanted fans to know he’s coming back strong. “I feel really good, both mentally and physically. I’m trying to get back to my best after the injury. It’s never easy to hit 100% right away, but mentally I’m in a great place, and physically I’m almost there.”

Barcelona made it look easy on Sunday, beating Levante 3-0 at Camp Nou and jumping back to the top of La Liga. Real Madrid slipped up the day before, losing 2-1 at Osasuna, so Hansi Flick’s team pulled a point ahead of their rivals with this win over 19th-placed Levante.

Marc Bernal and Frenkie de Jong got things started, both scoring in the first half to put Barca in control. Late in the game, Fermin Lopez smashed in a brilliant third to seal it. Honestly, Barca needed this boost after a rough stretch: a 4-0 hammering from Atletico Madrid in the Copa del Rey semi-final, then a 2-1 loss to Girona in the league just last Monday.

“I’m really happy to get the three points and score for the team,” Bernal told Movistar. Levante almost shocked everyone in the opening minute, but after Bernal’s goal, the nerves settled and Barcelona found their groove.

For Bernal, this one meant a lot. It was only his second goal since coming back from a brutal knee injury that sidelined him for over a year. “When I celebrated, I thought of my dad and my physio. He told me I’d score, and he’s helped me so much,” Bernal said.

Barca’s defence still looked shaky, even though Flick keeps asking for more discipline at the back. Levante just couldn’t take advantage, wasting their chances.

Bernal opened the scoring after some slick play from Joao Cancelo and Eric Garcia. Cancelo, getting a rare start since joining on loan, looked sharp. Robert Lewandowski had a clear shot to double the lead but blasted it over. Cancelo almost set him up again, hitting the post with a cross, and then delivered another ball from the left for De Jong, who finished it off.

Garcia missed a good chance early in the second half, heading wide from a Jules Kounde cross. Eventually, substitute Fermin Lopez stepped up and smashed in a rocket off the post for Barca’s third. He almost got another one late on, but Levante keeper Mathew Ryan came up with a great save.

Flick also brought back Pedri as a sub after a month out with a hamstring injury, and he’ll be important with some tough matches coming up.

Levante are now seven points from safety. Their midfielder Carlos Alvarez summed it up: “We had a couple of chances in the first half; if we’d scored, maybe things would’ve been different. If we’d gone ahead, who knows?”

Earlier in the day, Sevilla edged Getafe 1-0, and Villarreal, who sit third, were set to play Valencia later.