Raphinha hat-trick maintains Barcelona’s perfect La Liga start

SEVILLA, Spain – Barcelona maintained their 100 per cent record this season with a 3-1 La Liga victory over Sevilla on Sept 19, as captain Raphinha scored a hat-trick to continue his remarkable start to the campaign.

Sevilla opened the scoring after 18 minutes through a Youssouf Fofana header, but Barcelona hit back with a Raphinha strike four minutes later.

Seven minutes into the second half, Raphinha headed in a Lamine Yamal cross to put the Catalans in front, and the pair combined again as the Brazilian completed his hat-trick in the 69th minute, his 12th league goal in seven games this season.

Barcelona are provisionally six points clear at the top of La Liga, with second-placed Real Madrid, who have a game in hand, playing Atletico Madrid on Sept 20. REUTERS