Raphinha Hat-Trick Sends Barcelona Top After Sevilla Comeback
Barcelona came from behind to beat Sevilla 3-1 at the Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán, with Raphinha scoring all three goals after Youssouf Fofana had given the home side an early lead. The result preserved Barça’s flawless La Liga start and left Hansi Flick’s team top of the standings going into the international break.
Match facts
| Item | Figure | Context |
|---|---|---|
| Final score | Sevilla 1-3 Barcelona | La Liga at the Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán |
| Opening goal | 18th minute | Youssouf Fofana put Sevilla ahead |
| Barcelona record | 21 points from 21 | Perfect start to the 2026/27 league season |
Sevilla began with the intensity that Flick had feared, unsettling the visitors during a difficult opening half and earning their reward when Fofana struck in the 18th minute. Barcelona’s coach showed his frustration on the touchline as his side conceded too much territory and struggled to reach their usual level.
Flick said his message at the interval was clear: Barcelona had not met their own standards and needed a substantial improvement. The response after the restart pleased him, with the visitors adapting to the contest rather than relying on another emphatic scoreline.
Raphinha provided the decisive difference. Fresh from agreeing a contract extension through to 2030, the Brazilian produced a clinical hat-trick to turn the game around and dismantle Sevilla’s resistance. Flick described him as a player capable of changing matches and said the forward’s renewal was an important decision for the club.
The Barcelona coach also singled out Lamine Yamal, placing the young attacker alongside Raphinha as another player able to alter the course of a game. Flick’s main satisfaction, however, was the collective recovery after an underwhelming first period.
He stressed that victories by large margins cannot be expected every week in the league, and regarded the second-half response as more valuable than simply adding another high-scoring win. Barcelona’s display combined a resilient reaction with the attacking efficiency that has marked their early-season run.
Sevilla manager Luis García Plaza was left to reflect on a strong first half that his side could not reproduce after the interval. He praised his players’ initial performance and their willingness to put the league leaders under pressure, while accepting that Barcelona’s level is well above that of the rest of the division.
Barcelona now head into the international break with seven wins from seven and a maximum 21 points. The victory further underlined the growing clarity of Flick’s approach, even if the contest also showed that his side can be made uncomfortable before their quality takes over.
