Raphinha scored a superb hat-trick to earn Barcelona a 3-1 win at Sevilla on Saturday in La Liga and preserve their 100 percent record
Hansi Flick’s side moved six points clear of Jose Mourinho’s Real Madrid, who visit Atletico Madrid in a derby clash on Sunday
The Spanish champions were given the biggest test of their season to date but overcame Sevilla at the Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan thanks to Raphinha’s treble
The Brazil international has started the season in sensational form, playing out of position as a central striker
La Liga’s top goalscorer, Raphinha reached 12 goals in seven league appearances with a second consecutive hat-trick
Barcelona sporting director Deco said the former Leeds winger had agreed to extend his stay at the club until 2030 ahead of the game, and Raphinha celebrated in style
Flick handed Croatian goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic his debut in goal with Joan Garcia out injured
Hosts Sevilla, fifth, started strongly, making Barca uncomfortable, and took the lead through Youssouf Fofana in the 19th minute
Felix Correia escaped Eric Garcia and crossed for Fofana to nod home at the near post
Teenage star Lamine Yamal almost pulled Barca level but Sevilla goalkeeper Odysseas Vlachodimos managed to push his curling effort against the post and out
It was no surprise when the Catalans did equalise that it was Raphinha who was the man to score
He cleverly shifted his body weight to escape a defender and slipped the ball home with a low finish
Yamal sent another shot over and after Sevilla fans whistled him, goaded them to keep doing so
Although the 19-year-old did not score himself, he did create Raphinha’s next two goals
Early in the second half Yamal crossed and Raphinha headed home to put Barca in front
Arguably his best finish was yet to come, with Yamal sending Raphinha through, for the Brazilian to dink the ball over the goalkeeper
Barca missed several chances to extend their lead, with Anthony Gordon getting his feet wrong and a Dani Olmo free-kick beaten away
Nevertheless Barca claimed an eighth win from eight games across all competitions this season, as they continue setting the pace in the Spanish top flight
Elsewhere Celta Vigo thrashed Racing Santander 5-0, Athletic Bilbao and Alaves drew 0-0 and Osasuna were held 1-1 by Rayo Vallecano