Barcelona Crush Racing Santander 7-2 as Raphinha Hits Hat-Trick

Barcelona extended their perfect Liga start to six matches with a 7-2 home victory over Racing Santander, a result built on Joao Cancelo’s early brilliance and Raphinha’s penalty-led hat-trick. Hansi Flick’s side stayed top of the division and remain the only team in Spain’s top flight with a 100 per cent record, while Santander were left in 10th place.

Barcelona seize control before the interval

The home side were ahead inside eight minutes when Cancelo drove a 25-yard effort against the underside of the crossbar and into the goal. Barcelona continued to press and doubled their lead in the first half after Raphinha was brought down by Pedro Felipe in the area.

• Raphinha converted the first penalty to put Barcelona 2-0 ahead.
• Maguette Gueye gave Santander a response, controlling the ball before finishing to reduce the gap.
• Cancelo’s next fierce effort took a substantial deflection off Asier Villalibre, restoring Barcelona’s two-goal advantage.
• Dani Olmo supplied Raphinha for a composed finish that made the score 4-1 before half-time.

There was almost another Barcelona goal before the break, but Santander goalkeeper Julen Agirrezabala saved Lamine Yamal’s penalty.

Szczesny error briefly offers Santander hope

Barcelona changed goalkeepers at half-time after Joan Garcia suffered an injury, with Wojciech Szczesny introduced. The replacement goalkeeper handed the visitors an immediate opening when he lost possession in his own half.

Yassir Zabiri took advantage of Szczesny’s mistake and finished to make it 4-2, briefly raising the prospect of a comeback. Barcelona, however, quickly removed any uncertainty from the contest.

• Raphinha completed his treble from another spot-kick, taking Barcelona to 5-2.
• Gabriel Jesus came off the bench and found the far corner for the sixth goal.
• Yamal added the final goal after a Barcelona counter-attack, having earlier been denied from the penalty spot.

Perfect record keeps Flick’s team first

The seven-goal display delivered Barcelona’s sixth straight league win of the campaign and reinforced their position at the summit. Santander’s two goals ensured a lively contest at stages, but they could not contain a Barcelona attack led by Cancelo’s double contribution and Raphinha’s three-goal afternoon.