Diego Simeone Praises Barcelona: “They Are Playing a Different Sport” as Raphinha and Lamine Yamal Shine
Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone has given a strong assessment of Barcelona’s remarkable opening to the 2026-27 season, saying the Catalan side currently look as though they are “playing a different sport” from their rivals.
Simeone’s comments came after Atletico Madrid defeated Real Madrid 2-1 in the first Madrid derby of the season. His remarks were subsequently shared publicly by football journalist Fabrizio Romano.
The praise comes at a time when Barcelona are producing eye-catching attacking numbers under manager Hansi Flick. The Catalan club followed their perfect start with a 3-1 comeback victory away to Sevilla, with Raphinha scoring all three goals.
Barcelona have now won all seven of their La Liga matches and have collected 21 points from 21 possible, while also winning their opening Champions League fixture to make it eight competitive victories in a row.
Simeone: Barcelona Look Like They Are Playing a Different Sport
Simeone was asked about Barcelona’s impressive start and did not hold back in his assessment.
“It seems Barcelona is playing a different sport from the one we’re playing,” Simeone said, according to reports of his ESPN interview.
The Atletico boss specifically pointed to Barcelona’s attacking numbers and the form of Raphinha and Lamine Yamal.
“They didn’t have a number 9 striker, then Raphinha showed up and scored 12 goals,” Simeone said.
He then added that Yamal had scored seven goals at this stage of the league campaign.
Simeone also highlighted Barcelona’s aggressive pressing and their willingness to take risks.
Raphinha Leads Barcelona’s Attack
Raphinha has been one of the biggest stories of Barcelona’s start to the campaign.
The Brazilian forward scored a hat-trick against Sevilla on September 19 as Barcelona came from behind to win 3-1 at the Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán.
Sevilla opened the scoring through Youssouf Fofana, but Raphinha equalised before half-time. He then scored twice after the break, completing his hat-trick and securing another victory for Flick’s side.
The three goals took Raphinha’s La Liga tally to 12 goals after seven matches, making him the league’s leading scorer at that stage.
His role has also attracted attention because Barcelona have not relied exclusively on a traditional central striker for their attacking output.
Raphinha has frequently moved into central areas and has become a major goalscoring threat.
Lamine Yamal Adding Goals and Creativity
Lamine Yamal has also been central to Barcelona’s attacking performances.
The young winger played an important role in the victory over Sevilla, providing assists for two of Raphinha’s goals.
Barcelona’s official match report highlighted the connection between Yamal and Raphinha, particularly in the second half. Yamal supplied the cross for Raphinha’s second goal before creating the opening for the Brazilian’s third with a precise pass into space.
According to the figures referenced by Simeone, Yamal had scored seven La Liga goals at the time of his comments.
The combination of Yamal’s creativity and Raphinha’s finishing has become one of the defining features of Barcelona’s early-season attack.
Barcelona’s Perfect La Liga Start
Barcelona’s numbers underline why Simeone has been so impressed.
After seven La Liga matches, Barcelona had:
Statistic Barcelona
Matches 7
Wins 7
Draws 0
Defeats 0
Points 21
Goals scored 31
Goals conceded 7
The club’s official report confirmed that Barcelona had collected all 21 available points and remained alone at the top of La Liga heading into the international break.
The 31 goals also represent Barcelona’s best-ever seven-game start in terms of goals scored, according to reporting published after the Sevilla victory. Only Sevilla’s 40-goal start in the 1940/41 season was higher at this stage of La Liga history.
Simeone Praises Barcelona’s High Press
Simeone’s comments were not only about Barcelona’s goals.
He also praised the team’s aggressive approach without the ball.
“They press you in your own stadium and steal your time, and they don’t fear taking risks and conceding a goal,” Simeone said, according to reports of his ESPN comments.
Barcelona’s pressing allows the team to try to win possession high up the pitch, immediately putting opponents under pressure.
That approach was visible during the Sevilla match, although the hosts initially caused Barcelona problems with their own intensity and transitions.
After Sevilla took the lead, Barcelona responded and gradually took control of the match. The second half was particularly dominant, with Raphinha completing his hat-trick and Barcelona eventually seeing out the game comfortably.
Barcelona’s Response to Conceding Goals
One of the more interesting parts of Simeone’s assessment was his observation about Barcelona’s reaction when they concede.
The Atletico manager suggested that Barcelona can become even more dangerous after allowing an opponent to score.
That was reflected against Sevilla.
The hosts took a 1-0 lead in the 19th minute, but Barcelona equalised only three minutes later through Raphinha.
After the break, Barcelona scored twice more to complete the comeback.
The ability to recover quickly after conceding has become another feature of the team’s early-season run.
Hansi Flick’s Barcelona Setting the Early Pace
The impressive numbers also represent a strong start to Hansi Flick’s campaign.
Barcelona have combined high pressing with aggressive attacking football and have been able to produce goals from multiple areas of the team.
Raphinha has emerged as the leading scorer, while Yamal has provided both goals and assists. Other attacking options have also contributed as Barcelona continue to build depth around their system.
The club’s official report described the Sevilla victory as their eighth consecutive competitive win of the season, with seven coming in La Liga.
What Simeone’s Comments Mean
Simeone’s statement should be viewed as an assessment of Barcelona’s current form, rather than a prediction about how the entire season will finish.
His comment that Barcelona are “the best” at the moment reflects what he has seen from the team during the opening weeks of the campaign. Other teams, including Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid, remain in the title race.
After Atletico’s 2-1 derby victory over Real Madrid, Simeone’s side moved closer to Barcelona in the early standings, but Barcelona remained top after their seven straight league victories.
The season is still long, with domestic and European competitions ahead.
Barcelona’s Next Challenge
Barcelona entered the international break with a perfect La Liga record and an eight-match winning run across competitions.
The club’s official report said Barcelona would not return to action until October 10 because of the international break.
The next phase of the season will provide a tougher test of whether their extraordinary opening form can be maintained.
For now, however, Barcelona have established themselves as the early pace-setters in Spain, while Raphinha and Yamal have become two of the most talked-about attacking players in European football.
And Simeone, one of Barcelona’s major rivals in La Liga, has provided perhaps the strongest outside compliment yet.
Key Takeaways
🔵🔴 Barcelona have won all seven La Liga matches so far.
⚽ Raphinha has scored 12 league goals after seven matches.
⭐ Lamine Yamal has scored seven league goals, according to figures cited by Simeone.
🎩 Raphinha scored a hat-trick against Sevilla in Barcelona’s 3-1 comeback win.
📊 Barcelona have scored 31 goals in seven La Liga matches.
🧠 Simeone praised Barcelona’s high pressing and attacking risk-taking.
🗣️ Simeone said Barcelona appear to be “playing a different sport” and described them as the best team at the moment.
🏆 Barcelona currently lead La Liga with 21 points from 21.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who said Barcelona are playing a different sport?
Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone made the comment while discussing Barcelona’s impressive start to the 2026-27 season.
How many goals has Raphinha scored in La Liga?
Raphinha had scored 12 La Liga goals after seven matches, following his hat-trick against Sevilla.
How did Barcelona perform against Sevilla?
Barcelona defeated Sevilla 3-1 away from home on September 19, with Raphinha scoring all three Barcelona goals.
What is Barcelona’s La Liga record?
Barcelona have won all seven of their opening La Liga matches, giving them 21 points from 21 possible.
What did Simeone praise about Barcelona?
Simeone praised Barcelona’s attacking threat, high pressing, willingness to take risks and the performances of Raphinha and Lamine Yamal.
Final Word
Diego Simeone’s assessment captures just how impressive Barcelona’s opening weeks of the 2026-27 season have been.
Seven league wins, 31 goals and outstanding numbers from Raphinha and Lamine Yamal have placed Barcelona at the top of La Liga.
Whether they can maintain that level throughout the season remains to be seen, but for now, even one of their major rivals believes Barcelona are operating at a different level.
“They’re the best right now,” Simeone said.
Disclaimer
This article is intended for informational purposes. Match statistics and player figures are based on reports and sources available at the time of publication. Football results, standings and player statistics can change as the season progresses. Quotes attributed to Diego Simeone are reported from media coverage of his comments and are presented in context.
Do Follow For More Info @ http://roydailyupdate.in
Do WhatsApp @ https://chat.whatsapp.com/K5POJK9KbpN8egjjOCaOw6
About the Author
Ravi H Irannanavar is a blogger and digital content creator covering sports, breaking news, jobs, stocks, entertainment and trending stories. He focuses on presenting timely updates in a clear and reader-friendly format.