Sevilla vs Barcelona: Raphinha's Perfect Hat-Trick Powers Barça to 3-1 Victory

FC Barcelona continued their dominant start to the LaLiga EA Sports season with a 3-1 victory over Sevilla at the Estadio Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán on September 19, 2026. Despite an early setback, the Catalan side showcased their offensive firepower, led by a standout performance from Raphinha, to secure three points in Matchday 7.

Raphinha's 'Perfect Hat-Trick' and Scoring Surge

The headline of the match was Raphinha's exceptional clinical finishing. The Brazilian forward scored a "perfect hat-trick," recording goals with his right foot, left foot, and a header. This performance brings his season total to 12 goals, positioning him as the current leader in the Pichichi race. MARCA noted that Raphinha's goals turned the game around after Sevilla had initially taken the lead.

Under manager Hansi Flick, FC Barcelona has transformed into a scoring machine. The team has netted 31 goals in just seven matches, a rate that puts them on track for a record-breaking season start. To put this in perspective, their current tally in seven games is nearly equal to what some mid-table teams score in an entire season.

Match Timeline: From Early Shock to Tactical Dominance

The match did not begin in Barcelona's favor. Sevilla, managed by Luis García Plaza, utilized an aggressive individual defense that unsettled the visitors. The home side took an early 1-0 lead through a goal by Fofana, who headed in a cross from Correia, marking the first time this season that Barcelona trailed in a match.

The momentum shifted quickly as Raphinha equalized with a brilliant individual effort, cutting past Sangante before finishing across the goalkeeper. The second half saw Barcelona exert total control. Lamine Yamal, who faced significant whistling from the Sevilla crowd after a first-half disagreement with the stands, responded with high-quality play, providing the assist for Raphinha's second goal (a header) to make it 2-1.

The victory was sealed in the 69th minute when Raphinha completed his hat-trick by chipping the ball past Sevilla goalkeeper Odysseas, finalizing the score at 3-1.

Squad Updates and Injury Concerns

While the result was positive, the match highlighted some stability and stability issues within the squad:

• Goalkeeping: Dominik Livakovic started in goal, stepping in for the injured Joan García.
• Defensive Blow: Andreas Christensen suffered another muscular injury during the match, leaving the pitch in tears, continuing a frustrating pattern of fitness issues for the Danish defender.
• Key Returns: Pau Cubarsí returned to the lineup, while Gordon continued to rotate with Adeyemi.

Following this win, Barcelona FC is now just one victory away from equaling their best-ever LaLiga start, a record set during the 2013/14 season.