Raphinha hat-trick Barcelona as Catalan giants thrash Sevilla 5-2 to restore four-point La Liga lead ahead of Champions League clash

Raphinha scored a clinical hat-trick as FC Barcelona defeated Sevilla FC 5-2 on Sunday to restore a four-point lead at the top of La Liga.

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The emphatic victory came a day after Real Madrid reduced the gap by beating Elche CF, prompting a powerful response from the reigning champions at the partially rebuilt Camp Nou.

Goals from Dani Olmo and João Cancelo completed the dominant performance for Barcelona, coached by Hansi Flick, who now turn their attention to a crucial UEFA Champions League clash against Newcastle United on Wednesday.

Barcelona took the lead early after Cancelo surged into the penalty area and was clipped by Djibril Sow. Raphinha calmly converted the resulting penalty in the ninth minute to set the tone for the afternoon.

The Brazilian doubled the advantage from the spot soon after when Sevilla defender José Ángel Carmona handled the ball while trying to stop Cancelo’s run. Raphinha struck low past goalkeeper Odysseas Vlachodimos to make it 2-0.

Barcelona added a third in the 38th minute when Marc Bernal delivered a deflected cross that found Olmo, who finished with precision to extend the lead.

Sevilla pulled a goal back before the interval as Juanlu Sánchez broke behind the defence and delivered a cross that allowed Oso to score unmarked at the far post.

However, Barcelona resumed control early in the second half when Raphinha completed his hat-trick with a heavily deflected strike, effectively ending Sevilla’s hopes of a comeback.

Cancelo later crowned an impressive display by driving into the box and finishing through Vlachodimos’s legs to add a fifth for the hosts.

The match also saw an emotional return for Gavi, who came on in the closing minutes for his first appearance since August after recovering from a serious knee injury.

Sevilla managed a late consolation when Sow headed home from Oso’s cross in stoppage time, but Barcelona were already looking ahead to the Champions League encounter with Newcastle.

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The match was played in front of around 56,000 fans, who also gathered at the stadium to vote in Barcelona’s presidential election, with either Joan Laporta or Victor Font set to be announced as the club’s next president later on Sunday night.