Raphinha struck a brilliant hat-trick as FC Barcelona powered to a commanding 5–2 victory over Sevilla FC on Sunday, restoring their four-point advantage at the top of La Liga.
After Real Madrid had briefly cut the gap with a win over Elche CF on Saturday, Barcelona responded emphatically at Camp Nou with a dominant attacking display. Goals from Dani Olmo and João Cancelo completed the comfortable victory for Hansi Flick’s side.
Barcelona took control early thanks to two penalties converted by Raphinha. The Brazilian winger opened the scoring in the ninth minute after Sevilla midfielder Djibril Sow fouled Cancelo inside the area. Raphinha calmly chipped the ball down the middle to give the hosts the lead.
A second penalty soon followed when defender José Ángel Carmona handled the ball while attempting to stop another Cancelo run. This time Raphinha placed a low shot beyond goalkeeper Odysseas Vlachodimos to double Barcelona’s advantage.
Barcelona extended their lead further in the 38th minute when a deflected cross from Marc Bernal fell kindly for Olmo, who finished clinically to make it 3–0.
Sevilla managed to pull one back before the break when Juanlu Sánchez broke down the flank and delivered a cross that was converted by Oso at the far post.
Any hopes of a comeback were quickly extinguished early in the second half. Raphinha completed his hat-trick with a heavily deflected strike that wrong-footed Vlachodimos, taking his tally for the afternoon to three goals.
Cancelo later added a fifth for Barcelona with an impressive solo effort, driving into the penalty area before finishing through the goalkeeper’s legs.
Sevilla managed a late consolation in stoppage time as Sow headed home from an Oso cross, but the result had long since been decided.
The match also marked an emotional return for Gavi, who came off the bench for the final 10 minutes after recovering from a serious knee injury. The midfielder received a standing ovation from the Camp Nou crowd and was handed the captain’s armband by Ronald Araújo.
“It has been very tough,” Gavi said after the match, reflecting on his recovery. “But being back at Camp Nou with the fans and my team-mates is a unique feeling.”
Barcelona had earlier rotated their squad ahead of Wednesday’s UEFA Champions League clash against Newcastle United, with teenage star Lamine Yamal starting on the bench while youngster Xavi Espart made his first start at right-back.
Around 56,000 supporters attended the match at the partially redeveloped Camp Nou, where club members were also voting in Barcelona’s presidential elections between Joan Laporta and Víctor Font.
