If anyone thought the La Liga title race was going to get tight this weekend, Raphinha clearly didn’t get the memo. In a ruthless display at the Spotify Camp Nou on Sunday night, the Brazilian star bagged a hat-trick to lead Barcelona to a crushing 5-2 win over Sevilla, keeping the Catalan giants firmly in the driver’s seat.
The match felt one-sided almost from the jump. Joao Cancelo, who has been a revelation since returning to the club this winter, was a nightmare for the Sevilla defense, winning two penalties in the first twenty minutes. Raphinha stepped up both times, even cheekily opting for a Panenka on the first, to put Barca 2-0 up before most fans had even settled into their seats.
Dani Olmo added a third with a stinging drive before the break, and while Sevilla’s Oso managed to pull one back just before the whistle, any hope of a comeback was short-lived. Raphinha completed his treble early in the second half, followed by a clinical fifth from Cancelo. A late headed goal by Djibril Sow for Sevilla was nothing more than a statistical footnote.
With Real Madrid breathing down their necks after a win on Saturday, this was exactly the response Hansi Flick’s men needed. Barcelona now holds a four-point lead at the top of the table as they shift their focus to a massive Champions League clash with Newcastle United this Wednesday.
