Brazilian winger’s treble, alongside goals from Olmo and Cancelo, keeps leaders four points clear as Gavi makes emotional return from injury.
BARCELONA: Raphinha delivered a stunning hat-trick as Barcelona cruised past Sevilla with a 5-2 victory on Sunday, restoring their four-point lead at the top of the La Liga standings.
The result came as a direct response to Real Madrid’s win over Elche the previous day, with Hansi Flick’s side producing a dominant performance in front of 56,000 fans at the partially reopened Camp Nou.
Dani Olmo and Joao Cancelo added to the scoreline, but the day belonged to Raphinha, who netted twice from the penalty spot in the first half before completing his treble early after the break with a deflected strike.
“Playing like this, it’s hard for teams to beat us,” Raphinha told DAZN. “I love this club, and the way to respond from the love I receive from the fans is by scoring goals and kissing the badge.”
The victory also coincided with Joan Laporta’s re-election as club president for another five-year term, adding further significance to an emphatic afternoon for the Blaugrana.
Clinical Start from the Spot
Flick opted to rest Lamine Yamal, handing youngster Xavi Espart his first start at right-back. The hosts were gifted an early breakthrough when Djibril Sow fouled Cancelo inside the box, allowing Raphinha to dink home the opener from 12 yards.
Minutes later, a second penalty was awarded after Jose Angel Carmona, grounded inside the area, handled the ball as Cancelo attempted to dribble past him. Raphinha stepped up again, this time firing low to the left to make it 2-0.
Olmo extended the lead just before half-time, latching onto a deflected cross from Marc Bernal to slot home a clinical third. Sevilla pulled one back in first-half stoppage time through Oso, who finished unmarked at the far post after Juanlu Sanchez broke free down the right.
Raphinha Seals Treble, Gavi Returns
Any hopes of a Sevilla fightback were extinguished early in the second half when Raphinha’s shot from distance took a heavy deflection and looped past goalkeeper Odysseas Vlachodimos to complete his hat-trick.
Cancelo later added a fifth, driving into the box and finishing through the goalkeeper’s legs to cap a standout individual display.
The final minutes brought an emotional highlight as midfielder Gavi made his long-awaited return from a severe knee injury, his first appearance since August 2024. Ronald Araujo handed him the captain’s armband as he entered the pitch.
“It has been very tough, if I’m honest,” Gavi said. “This time was much harder than the last time. But this feeling — to be back at Camp Nou, with my people, with the fans — is unique.”
Sevilla grabbed a late consolation through Sow in stoppage time, but the result leaves them 14th in the table, while Barcelona march on with momentum ahead of a crucial Champions League clash against Newcastle on Wednesday.
“We have to be focused for the next game because Newcastle is a great team,” Flick told reporters. “I’m not negative, I just think about what can be better.”
Elsewhere in La Liga
- Real Betis and Celta Vigo played out a 1-1 draw in their battle for European qualification.
- Real Sociedad climbed to seventh after a 3-1 win over Osasuna, with Goncalo Guedes scoring twice.
- Mallorca moved out of the relegation zone with a 2-1 victory over Espanyol, who remain winless in 2026.
