Raphinha knew that there was no reason to panic, because Barcelona had difficulty breaking out Espanyol on Thursday and said it was only a matter of time before Lamine Yamal's “golden feet” sent them to a title -winning victory with a glorious goal.
Yamal, 17, took the ball on the right touchline and made an excellent lateral run over the edge of the box before he unleashed a curly attack between two defenders and in the upper corner to break the impasse early in the second half.
The stunning strike set Barca on course for a 2-0 win that secured the LaLiga title, with Real Madrid Seven Points Back with two more games to be played.
“We didn't have many clear opportunities, but we have a child there who sometimes gets something from the golden feet he has and he gave us peace of mind to stay calmer,” said Raphinha.
“In January, some people said we would fight to become third. We have faith in ourselves. That is the key. We rely on work and what we know we can do.”
Raphinha has scored 18 league goals this season, including a brace in the crucial 4-3 victory of Saturday over Real Madrid, and was quickly the trust in him credit by coach Hansi Flick.
The Brazilian tripled last season and also has the third highest number of assists in the competition with nine, three less than leader Yamal.
“The most important thing was the coach's confidence. Knowing at the start of the season he counted on me, a person who controls the team … It eventually changes you,” he said.