Raphinha Hat-Trick Helps Barcelona Fight Back to Beat Sevilla 3-1
Barcelona extended their perfect La Liga start by recovering from an early setback to beat Sevilla 3-1 at the Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán, with Raphinha scoring all three away goals. The Brazilian’s latest treble kept Hansi Flick’s side clear at the summit on 21 points.
Key takeaways
- Youssouf Fofana put Sevilla ahead in the 19th minute before Barcelona responded quickly.
- Raphinha levelled the match three minutes later after Andreas Christensen picked him out.
- The Brazilian finished with a hat-trick, taking his league return to 12 goals in seven appearances.
- Lamine Yamal supplied two assists as Barcelona took control after the interval.
- Andreas Christensen left the match with a thigh problem, while debutant Dominik Livakovic impressed in goal.
Raphinha leads Barcelona’s recovery
Sevilla made the stronger early breakthrough when Fofana struck in the 19th minute, briefly giving the home support hope of halting Barcelona’s winning run. That advantage did not last long. Christensen’s accurate delivery allowed Raphinha to restore parity in the 22nd minute.
Barcelona then increasingly dictated the contest, retaining the ball for long periods and generating a steady flow of openings. Raphinha added two second-half finishes to turn the match decisively in the visitors’ favour and complete his second hat-trick in the space of 72 hours.
He had also scored three times in Barcelona’s 7-2 victory over Racing in the previous round. Used through the middle following the summer exits of Robert Lewandowski and Ferran Torres, Raphinha has adapted emphatically to the central role. He has 14 goals and three assists from eight matches in all competitions this season.
Yamal was a persistent threat from wide areas and created two of Raphinha’s goals, repeatedly testing Sevilla goalkeeper Odysseas Vlachodimos. Barcelona’s response to falling behind also underlined the confidence within Flick’s side as they quietened the stadium and saw out another important victory in the title race.
Christensen concern amid solid defensive display
The result came with one concern for Barcelona after Christensen sustained a thigh injury in the second half. Flick will assess the defender in the coming days as the schedule moves quickly into another domestic and European double-header.
Livakovic made his first appearance in goal and handled the occasion well, making several stops when Sevilla looked to build on their opening goal. Pau Cubarsí and Eric García led a defence that gave up few clear opportunities once Barcelona had regained control.
Barcelona return to La Liga duty against Getafe on October 10 before facing Galatasaray in the Champions League on October 13. Their seven-match league winning start has placed them on 21 points as Flick’s team seek to maintain momentum across both competitions.
