Raphinha hattrick guides Barca to 7-0 demolition of Valladolid

Raphinha hattrick guides Barca to 7-0 demolition of Valladolid

The win ensures that Hansi Flick's side will remain top of La Liga ahead of the international break.

Raphinha-AP
Raphinha celebrates after scoring Barcelona’s fifth goal in the La Liga match against Real Valladolid. (AP pic)
BARCELONA:
Forward Raphinha scored the first hattrick of his career and delivered two assists to guide an imperious Barcelona to a 7-0 rout of Real Valladolid in La Liga on Saturday.

Barcelona will go to the international break on top of the standings on a perfect 12 points from four matches, five ahead second-placed Villarreal and seven clear of bitter rivals Real Madrid in fourth, both of whom have a match in hand.

Facing a Valladolid side that gave champions Real Madrid a tough match last weekend, Barcelona were ruthless and showed from the start why they have been Spain’s most impressive side this season under new manager Hansi Flick.

Raphinha and Robert Lewandowski gave the host a two-goal lead within four minutes with similar efforts from counter-attacks, controlling long balls by Pau Cubarsi and Lamine Yamal before tidy finishes past the goalkeeper.

Jules Kounde extended the lead striking a rebound from a corner in added time before the break and, after Lewandowski hit the post, Raphinha scored twice from close range to extend Barca’s lead.

The Brazil international continued his masterclass with an assist to new signing Dani Olmo who, after hitting the post twice and missing an absolute sitter from close range, finally managed to score in the 82nd minute in his first start for Barca.

Substitute Ferran Torres completed the drubbing from another assist by Raphinha who is second in the La Liga top-scorer race with three goals, one behind Lewandowski.

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