FC Barcelona strengthened their lead at the top of La Liga on Sunday after a convincing 5–2 win over Sevilla FC, moving four points clear of Real Madrid. The standout performer was Raphinha, who delivered an impressive hat-trick to guide the champions to victory. Two of his goals came from the penalty spot, while the third arrived early in the second half after his shot took a looping deflection that effectively sealed the result.
Barcelona started strongly and showed no signs of pressure, opening the scoring just seven minutes into the match. A slick attacking move down the left saw João Cancelo break into the penalty area before being brought down by Djibril Sow. The referee quickly pointed to the spot, and Raphinha confidently chipped a Panenka-style penalty to give the hosts the lead.
Ten minutes later, Barcelona were awarded another penalty. Cancelo again caused problems in the box, skillfully dribbling through defenders before the ball struck the arm of José Carmona. After a VAR review, the penalty was confirmed and Raphinha stepped up once more, this time firing a powerful low shot into the corner to double Barcelona’s advantage.
The rest of the first half was relatively quiet, but Barcelona struck again when they found space in Sevilla’s defence. Dani Olmo made a well-timed run into the box and met a pass from Marc Bernal, finishing first-time into the corner to make it 3–0. However, Sevilla pulled one back in stoppage time when Juanlu Sánchez delivered a superb cross that was met by Isaac Romero, who calmly volleyed the ball into the far corner.
Barcelona quickly regained control after the break. Raphinha completed his hat-trick early in the second half, creating space on the edge of the box before firing a shot that took a deflection and beat the goalkeeper.
Cancelo then capped off an outstanding performance by adding a goal of his own, cutting inside and finishing neatly to extend Barcelona’s lead further. Sevilla managed to score another consolation goal deep into stoppage time, but it did little to change the outcome as Barcelona comfortably secured the win.
Player Ratings
Goalkeeper & Defence
- Joan García (6/10): Had little chance with Sevilla’s goals and was otherwise rarely tested.
- Xavi Espart (5/10): Lost his marker for Sevilla’s goal but delivered a steady performance overall.
- Pau Cubarsí (6/10): Had a relatively comfortable game as Barcelona controlled most of the action.
- Gerard Martín (7/10): Looked solid in defence and handled Sevilla’s occasional attacks well.
- João Cancelo (8/10): Won two penalties and scored a goal, rounding off a brilliant display.
Midfield
- Pedri (7/10): Delivered his usual reliable performance, controlling the tempo in midfield.
- Marc Bernal (7/10): Worked hard in midfield, breaking up play and helping Barcelona stay on the front foot.
- Dani Olmo (8/10): Scored a well-taken goal and orchestrated attacks from the No. 10 role.
Attack
- Roony Bardghji (7/10): Filled in well before being replaced in the second half.
- Robert Lewandowski (5/10): A quiet game for the veteran striker, with limited opportunities in front of goal.
- Raphinha (9/10): The star of the match. His hat-trick and constant attacking threat made him Barcelona’s standout performer.
Substitutes & Manager
- Fermín López (7/10): Made an impact from the bench with an assist.
- Ronald Araújo (6/10): Came on with the game already under control.
- Lamine Yamal (6/10): Had limited involvement after coming on.
- Marc Casadó (6/10): Helped maintain control in midfield with neat passing.
- Gavi (N/A): Made a brief appearance as he returned from a long-term knee injury.
Manager
- Hansi Flick (8/10): Set his team up perfectly, with Barcelona effectively sealing the match in the first half before rotating players later in the game.
