Raphinha scored a hat-trick as Barcelona came from behind to defeat Sevilla and maintain their perfect start to the LaLiga season. The Brazilian forward produced a decisive second-half display after Sevilla had pushed the league leaders throughout the opening period. Barcelona arrived at the Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán with six wins from……
Raphinha scored a hat-trick as Barcelona came from behind to defeat Sevilla and maintain their perfect start to the LaLiga season.
The Brazilian forward produced a decisive second-half display after Sevilla had pushed the league leaders throughout the opening period.
Barcelona arrived at the Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán with six wins from six league matches, having scored 28 goals and conceded just six.
Sevilla, however, entered the encounter in impressive form after collecting 13 points from their opening six games.
The hosts started brightly and gradually put Barcelona under pressure after the visitors dominated the early exchanges.
Barcelona came close to taking the lead in the eighth minute when Lamine Yamal cut inside from the right and unleashed a powerful effort that beat goalkeeper Odysseas Vlachodimos but struck the crossbar.
Sevilla responded by pushing Barcelona deeper into their own half, with their pressure eventually producing the opening goal.
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Lucien Agoumé sent a chipped pass over the Barcelona defence towards Felix Correia, whose delivery was met by Youssouf Fofana at the back post.
Barcelona quickly restored parity through Raphinha.
The Brazilian collected the ball on the left, created room for a shot and calmly found the bottom-right corner to make it 1-1.
Both sides continued to threaten before the break, with Yamal sending another effort over the bar while Sevilla came close to retaking the lead in added time.
Rodri produced a crucial intervention to prevent what appeared to be a certain goal, ensuring Barcelona went into the interval level.
Barcelona returned from the break with greater control and quickly turned the match in their favour.
Yamal went close twice in the opening minutes before Raphinha completed his brace by meeting the youngster’s cross with a header to put Barcelona ahead.
The goal took Raphinha’s league tally to 11 after seven matches.
The forward then completed his hat-trick shortly afterwards in spectacular fashion.
Played through by Yamal, Raphinha timed his run perfectly before lifting the ball over the advancing Vlachodimos to give Barcelona a commanding advantage.
Sevilla were unable to find a way back into the game as Barcelona controlled the closing stages.
Yamal had an opportunity to add another goal from a free kick, but his effort went straight into the hands of the Sevilla goalkeeper.
The victory means Barcelona have now won all seven of their LaLiga matches this season, maintaining their perfect record with a goal difference of 24.
