Raphinha treble fires perfect Barca to win at Sevilla

SEVILLE, Spain: Raphinha scored a superb hat-trick to earn Barcelona a 3-1 win at Sevilla on Saturday in La Liga and preserve their 100 percent record.

Hansi Flick's side moved six points clear of Jose Mourinho's Real Madrid, who visit Atletico Madrid in a derby clash on Sunday.

The Spanish champions were given the biggest test of their season to date but overcame Sevilla at the Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan thanks to Raphinha's treble.

The Brazil international has started the season in sensational form, playing out of position as a central striker.

La Liga's top goalscorer, Raphinha reached 12 goals in seven league appearances with a second consecutive hat-trick.

"(Raphinha) had never played as a centre-forward, but the truth is he's having a great start to the season with great numbers, and I hope he keeps on scoring goals like this," Barca midfielder Fermin Lopez told Movistar.

"He's very good and can adapt to any position up front. We give him the balls and he scores the goals."

Barcelona sporting director Deco said the former Leeds winger had agreed to extend his stay at the club until 2030 ahead of the game, and Raphinha celebrated in style.

Flick handed Croatian goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic his debut in goal with Joan Garcia out injured.

Hosts Sevilla, fifth, started strongly, making Barca uncomfortable, and took the lead through Youssouf Fofana in the 19th minute.

Felix Correia escaped Eric Garcia and crossed for Fofana to nod home at the near post.

Teenage star Lamine Yamal almost pulled Barca level but Sevilla goalkeeper Odysseas Vlachodimos managed to push his curling effort against the post and out.

It was no surprise when the Catalans did equalise that it was Raphinha who was the man to score.

He cleverly shifted his body weight to escape a defender and slipped the ball home with a low finish.

Relentless Raphinha

Yamal sent another shot over and after Sevilla fans whistled him, goaded them to keep doing so.

Although the 19-year-old did not score himself, he did create Raphinha's next two goals.

Early in the second half Yamal crossed and Raphinha headed home to put Barca in front.

Arguably his best finish was yet to come, with Yamal sending Raphinha through, for the Brazilian to dink the ball over the goalkeeper. It was his 14th of the season between La Liga and the Champions League.

Barca missed several chances to extend their lead, with Anthony Gordon getting his feet wrong and a Dani Olmo free-kick beaten away.

Nevertheless Barca claimed an eighth win from eight games across all competitions this season, as they continue setting the pace in the Spanish top flight.

Sevilla fell to a second defeat of the season but left with their confidence intact after challenging Barca.

"We knew we were facing a tremendous opponent, one of the teams playing the best football in the world," Sevilla captain Gabriel Suazo told Movistar.

"We lacked energy in the second half but we competed until the end. We leave with our heads held high, having shown a good attitude."

Elsewhere Celta Vigo thrashed Racing Santander 5-0, Athletic Bilbao and Alaves drew 0-0 and Osasuna were held 1-1 by Rayo Vallecano.