Raphinha scores hat-trick as Barcelona beat Sevilla 3-1 to extend perfect league start

Raphinha leads comeback in Seville

FC Barcelona maintained their perfect start to the domestic campaign on Saturday evening, defeating Sevilla 3-1 at Estadio Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan. Hansi Flick's squad entered the contest with six consecutive victories and 28 goals scored against Elche, Athletic, Rayo Vallecano, Valencia, Levante, and Racing Santander. Sevilla brought a record of four wins, one draw, and one defeat, with their sole loss coming against Atletico Madrid. The visitors threatened early when Lamine Yamal curled a 19-meter shot onto the right post in the eighth minute after a fingertip touch from the goalkeeper. Sevilla opened the scoring in the 19th minute as Felix Correia delivered a cross from the wing that eluded Eric Garcia and Pau Cubarsi, allowing Youssouf Fofana to score with a header past Dominik Livakovic.

Hat-trick seals seventh consecutive victory

Barcelona responded within 180 seconds to draw level. Andreas Christensen found Raphinha, who feinted past his marker to open shooting space before scoring with a low right-footed strike past Odysseas Vlachodimos in the 22nd minute. Barcelona took control of the match in the second half. In the 52nd minute, Yamal delivered a cross into the penalty area for Raphinha to head home from five meters. The Brazilian winger hit the far post directly from a corner kick in the 64th minute before completing his hat-trick five minutes later, running onto a through ball from Yamal in the 69th minute and chipping the ball over Vlachodimos into the net.

Goalkeeping changes under Flick

The fixture included a rotation in goal following an injury to regular starter Joan Garcia. Garcia suffered a knee problem during Thursday's 7-2 win over Racing Santander, leaving at halftime, and is scheduled to return after the international break for the 10 October meeting with Getafe. Hansi Flick selected 31-year-old Croatian international Dominik Livakovic for his club debut following his summer transfer from Fenerbahce SK, placing Wojciech Szczesny on the bench after the Polish goalkeeper committed an error against Racing.

Flick explained his lineup decision to Movistar before the match kicked off in Seville.

“We analyzed everything and decided that it was time for a change, so we made it.”

Late opportunities and match closure

Sevilla created opportunities on counterattacks before the break, with Correia sending an 11-meter attempt wide of the post in the 42nd minute and Kochorashvili being ruled offside on another foray. Barcelona also saw Pedri misconnect on a first-half chance, while Rodri stopped a dangerous Sevilla advance inside the penalty area. Referee Juan Martinez Munuera dismissed an appeal from Yamal for a penalty kick after the half-hour mark. In the closing stages, Anthony Gordon missed scoring chances in the 78th and 81st minutes, while Vlachodimos parried an 89th-minute free kick from Dani Olmo and stopped Karim Adeyemi in stoppage time. The victory leaves Barcelona with 21 points and 31 goals across their opening seven fixtures.