Raphinha hat-trick keeps Barcelona four points clear in La Liga
Leaders win 5-2 at Montjuïc; Cancelo and Olmo on target as Sevilla concede two early penalties
Raphinha hat-trick powers Barcelona past Sevilla to keep La Liga lead
Leaders win 5-2 at Montjuïc; Cancelo and Olmo on target as Sevilla concede two early penalties
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Raphinha scored three times — including two first-half penalties — as Barcelona beat Sevilla 5-2 at home on Sunday to maintain a four-point lead over Real Madrid at the top of La Liga.
The Brazil winger converted spot-kicks seven minutes apart in the opening period after João Cancelo twice drew fouls in the area. Dani Olmo added a third before halftime, and Cancelo scored after the break to cap a dominant display. Sevilla replied in first-half stoppage time and again at the death through Djibril Sow’s header.
Standfirst
Barcelona rested Lamine Yamal and Fermín López ahead of next Wednesday’s Champions League tie at home to Newcastle United and still cruised, with Raphinha’s treble setting the tone in a high-scoring win.
Lead
Barcelona seized control early and never relinquished it. Raphinha’s first penalty came in the seventh minute after Cancelo’s shirt was pulled in the box. He converted a second spot-kick soon after, awarded for handball following another Cancelo surge. Olmo made it 3-0 in the 38th minute, finishing a move initiated by Marc Bernal, before Sevilla pulled one back in first-half stoppage time.
Nut Graf
The result keeps Barcelona four points clear in the title race after the weekend’s fixtures and underscores the impact of Raphinha and Cancelo down the right. With European commitments looming midweek, the leaders managed squad minutes and still found fluency in attack to dispatch a Sevilla side that only threatened at the margins.
Key Developments
- 7’ — Raphinha opens the scoring from the spot after a shirt pull on Cancelo in the area.
- First half — A second Raphinha penalty is awarded for handball following another Cancelo run; the Brazilian converts to make it 2-0.
- 38’ — Dani Olmo finishes after an assist from Marc Bernal for 3-0.
- 45’+ — Sevilla pull a goal back in first-half stoppage time.
- Second half — Raphinha completes his hat-trick with a deflected strike.
- ~60’ — João Cancelo cuts inside his marker and scores with a precise finish.
- 90’+ — Djibril Sow’s late header gives Sevilla a second consolation.
Evidence / Data
Final score: Barcelona 5, Sevilla 2.
Scorers: Raphinha (3), Dani Olmo, João Cancelo; Sevilla scored once in first-half stoppage time and again via Djibril Sow late on.
Table context: Barcelona remain four points ahead of Real Madrid, according to the source account of the standings after Sunday’s matches.
Elsewhere in La Liga
- Real Madrid 4-1 Elche (Saturday)
- Atlético Madrid 1-0 Getafe
- Betis 1-1 Celta Vigo
- Real Sociedad 3-1 Osasuna
- Mallorca 2-1 Espanyol
- Girona 3-0 Athletic Bilbao
- Alavés 1-1 Villarreal (Friday)
Quotes
Not provided.
Implications
The win extends Barcelona’s cushion at the summit and offers momentum ahead of their Champions League home tie against Newcastle United on Wednesday. Sevilla’s late goal offered little consolation after two early penalties left them chasing the game.
At the bottom, Elche slipped into the relegation zone, per the source account, with a head-to-head against Mallorca scheduled for next weekend.
Closing
Raphinha’s clinical finishing and Cancelo’s incisive running decided the contest early, allowing Barcelona to manage minutes and maintain control of the title race heading into a congested week.