“Too early” to name Barca contenders even though Bayern are raging: Flick

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Barcelona coach Hansi Flick said it was too early to say his team was a contender to win the Champions League, even after they beat six-time winners Bayern Munich 4-1 on Wednesday.

The Catalans last won the cup in 2015 and had lost their previous six games against Bayern, but they beat last season's semi-finalists at the Olympic Stadium with Raphinha scoring a hat-trick.

“It's too early (to say we're contenders), we've just started the season, we're on a long journey in La Liga and the Champions League,” Flick told reporters.

“We want to take it game by game and prepare ourselves that way.”

La Liga leaders Barcelona face Spanish and European champions Real Madrid in La Liga on Saturday in a thrilling Clasico clash that will be another important test for Flick's side.

“We are of course very proud of the result tonight, but it continues on Saturday, another tough game against a team whose name everyone knows,” he said.

“We want to deliver another great performance… with a result like this the team deserves it and also the celebration after the game.”

Raphinha opened the scoring in the first minute and after Harry Kane equalized, Robert Lewandowski put Barca back in the lead.

Two more goals from former Leeds United winger Raphinha, on his 100th appearance for the club, sealed Barcelona's comfortable victory.

“For me, Raphinha is a very good example of how the team works. Raphinha is someone who always gives his all in training and in games, he plays with a lot of intensity,” said Flick.

“He is very important for us, he presses and today we also saw that he scores goals… he has good dynamics with the ball and had an excellent game today.”

“He is a player who is both defensive and attacking, with intensity, dynamism and technique.”