Raphinha Hat-Trick Helps Barcelona Beat Sevilla 3-1 - Tempo.co English
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Barcelona continued their winning run with a 3-1 victory over Sevilla in a Matchday 7 La Liga fixture at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan Stadium on Sunday.
Sevilla took an early lead through Youssouf Fofana, but Barcelona turned the match around thanks to a hat-trick from Raphinha.
This result maintains Barcelona's perfect record in LaLiga—winning all seven matches to amass 21 points—and keeps them at the top of the standings.
Meanwhile, Sevilla remain in fifth place with 13 points after suffering their second defeat of the season, according to the official La Liga website as cited by Antara.
Sevilla opened the scoring in the 19th minute. Fofana converted a cross from Correia by directing the ball into the net with his shoulder.
VAR reviewed the goal for a potential handball, but the ball had struck his shoulder, so the goal was allowed to stand.
Sevilla's lead lasted only three minutes. Barcelona equalized through Raphinha, who beat the offside trap to latch onto a through-ball from Christensen.
The Brazilian winger fired a low shot that Sevilla goalkeeper Vlachodimos failed to stop.
Both teams then played more cautiously. Barcelona ramped up the pressure towards the end of the first half, but no further goals were scored before the break.
Barcelona came out aggressively after the interval, and their pressure paid off in the 52nd minute.
Yamal made a solo run inside the penalty area before delivering a lofted cross. Raphinha met it with a header to put Barcelona ahead 2-1.
Barcelona dominated the game further after that goal. In the 65th minute, Joao Cancelo nearly extended the lead, but his powerful shot was parried away by Vlachodimos.
Raphinha completed his hat-trick in the 69th minute. Receiving a through-ball from Yamal, he entered the penalty area and executed a chip shot over the Sevilla goalkeeper.
Barcelona led 3-1 and maintained the pressure until the final whistle. Hansi Flick even brought on several attacking players—including Karim Adeyemi, Dani Olmo, and Gabriel Jesus—to maintain his team's attacking threat.
Sevilla were unable to overturn the deficit before the final whistle, and Barcelona took home the three points from Andalusia.
