Raphinha Matches Messi With Hat-Trick In Ba…

Photo by Fran Santiago/Getty Images

Raphinha stole the show with a hat-trick for FC Barcelona, who defeated Sevilla 3-1 to extend their perfect record in LALIGA on Saturday night.

LALIGA
Teams: Sevilla v FC Barcelona
Result: 1-3
Scorers: Fofana (19′) / Raphinha (69′, 52′, 22′)

The Catalan giants’ run of form came the under microscope following a commanding 7-2 victory over Racing Santander on Wednesday, with the host out to build on their positive start to the season and remain in the top-five spot.

Lamine Yamal was inches away from breaking the deadlock in the opening ten minutes through a powerful curling shot outside the area, but goalkeeper Odysseas Vlachodimos made himself big and palmed to the upright.

Barcelona were stunned in the opening-quarter after Felix Correia made a surging run on the left and a crossed to the near post for Youssouf Fofana to head in and put the champions on the back-foot on 19 minutes.

However, the lead lasted three minutes as captain Raphinha circulated around the area before making a third-man run to meet a reverse pass from Andreas Christensen and finished in the bottom-corner for his 10th league goal of the season.

Correia charged at the visitors in the quest to restore their lead later on in the half and made an overlapping run on the right to unleash a low speculative shot at Dominik Livakovic, but his effort went wide.

Barcelona made a bright start five minutes into the second half and went in front when Yamal collected a loose ball in the box to deliver a telling a cross for Raphinha to head home for his brace.

Los Rojiblancos were completely under the weather and were close to conceding a third goal when a glancing effort by Eric Garcia from a corner-kick hit the upright and ventured back into play.

Raphinha continued to wreak havoc before the hydration break in the second half and completed his hat-trick after he beat the offside trap to run through the defence and finished off Yamal’s pass.

Sevilla displayed a sense of urgency in the final minutes, but couldn’t topple the champions who bagged another clinical victory to remain comfortable top of the table.

The night belonged to Raphinha, who walked away with match ball and matched club legend Lionel Messi by reaching 11 goals in his first seven matches of the league campaign, a feat which Messi achieved in two separated seasons, according to Opta Jose.

Next Five Fixtures:

Sevilla: Levante (A), Real Madrid (A), Osasuna (H), Getafe (A), Deportivo Alaves (H)

Barcelona: Getafe (H), Galatasaray (A), Real Betis (A), Paris Saint-Germain (H), Real Madrid (H)

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