Raphinha nets hat-trick as Barcelona thrash Sevilla to stretch lead at LaLiga summit

[p]The game sprang into life in the eighth minute after a scrappy opening from both sides when [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/cancelo-joao/dAyeWYpm/"]Joao Cancelo[/a] was brought down in the area, with [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/raphinha/xtBsDPam/"]Raphinha[/a] scoring the resulting spot-kick with a cheeky Panenka for his first league goal since January.[/p][p]The Brazilian wasn’t waiting long for another, and it was from the spot once more.[/p][p][b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/carmona-jose-angel/dE2MbgQ4/"]Jose Angel Carmona[/a] then slid in his own area, touching Cancelo’s cutback with his arm, allowing Raphinha to convert another penalty, this time low and hard to [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/vlachodimos-odisseas/2slo0WN2/"]Odysseas Vlachodimos[/a]’ right.[/b][/p][p]The only resistance being offered to [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/barcelona/SKbpVP5K/"]Barca[/a]’s incessant attacking came from Oso and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/adams-akor/nks9eiQ4/"]Akor Adams[/a], though the hosts rarely had to get out of second gear in the first half-hour.[/p][p][b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/agoume-lucien/bmJjJR1B/"]Lucien Agoume[/a] came close with a header on one of Sevilla’s rare forays upfield, but the game was effectively over as Barca countered shortly after, and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/olmo-dani/2oVBOlPg/"]Dani Olmo[/a] slammed home a low drive on the run to make it 3-0. [/b][/p][p][b]Right on half-time, [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/lewandowski-robert/MVC8zHZD/"]Robert Lewandowski[/a]’s flying header just landed the wrong side of the upright, and in stoppage time, Oso’s cushioned volley at the far post gave the visitors a lifeline.[/b][/p][image alt="Momentum graph" id="dc24ca26-7a49-4465-a331-31d8f5a6773a" credit-line="Opta by StatsPerform" guid="c66a9973-744c-4de6-880d-8b311219f778" original-width="1080" original-height="1080" /][p][b]That proved only a temporary reprieve for Sevilla, as just six minutes into the second half, a purposeful drive and pinpoint pass from substitute [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/fermin/2c2ipETG/"]Fermin Lopez[/a] found Raphinha, whose shot deflected home via Sevilla’s [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/gudelj-nemanja/SKLFEpf6/"]Nemanja Gudelj[/a] to complete his treble. [/b][/p][p]Barca then began toying with opponents, who’d had the wind taken out of their sails with that fourth goal.[/p][p][b]A swift break by Cancelo on the hour saw him beat the covering defenders before firing through Vlachodimos’ legs for a fifth, and his first since rejoining the club. [/b][/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/vargas-ruben/U7XUxOei/"]Ruben Vargas[/a] at least worked [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/garcia-joan/vuAlEqes/"]Joan Garcia[/a] with 18’ to play, and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/araujo-ronald/M3sbJix9/"]Ronald Araujo[/a] somehow missed the target with a towering free header at the other end.[/p][p][b]The final moments of the game saw an exercise in keep-ball from the hosts, though [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/sow-djibril/tUNr1qOE/"]Djibril Sow[/a] netted a late consolation to spare some embarrassment for the visitors. [/b][/p][p]Regardless, Barcelona reigstered a 15th win in a row at home, their best run since 2019, and a 23rd successive home head-to-head unbeaten against Sevilla (W20, D3).[/p][p][b]Flashscore Man of the Match: [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/raphinha/xtBsDPam/"]Raphinha[/a] ([a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/barcelona/SKbpVP5K/"]Barcelona[/a]) [/b][/p][image alt="Player ratings" id="dce5c58a-66b8-45d9-ab2f-eb85c3c37680" credit-line="Flashscore" guid="38b6097f-3b2a-4d1e-bb0a-5cb7edaf6193" original-width="1200" original-height="1200" /][p][b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/barcelona-SKbpVP5K/sevilla-h8oAv4Ts/summary/stats/?mid=AqHJ2tjK"]Catch up on the stats with Flashscore.[/a][/b][/p]