BARCELONA —
Raphinha was the director of a recital thanks to a hat-trick and an assist, with which Barcelona sent a message on Saturday as a legitimate contender for the Spanish league crown with the 7-0 thrashing of Valladolid.
Raphinha celebrated his first hat-trick for the Blaugrana with goals in the 20th, 64th and 72nd minutes; Robert Lewandowski (24), Jules Koundé (90+7), Dani Olmo (82) and Ferrán Torres (85) also found the net in the Blaugrana’s most convincing victory.
Barcelona have 12 points after their perfect run, seven points ahead of reigning champions Real Madrid, who will play host to Betis on Sunday.
With this brilliant start, German coach Hansi Flick’s Barça matched the start they had in the 2020-2021 league, when they still had Argentine star Lionel Messi.
Raphinha gave the attack the go-ahead after opening the scoring by getting a pass from defender Pau Cubarsí with his chest and sending it into the net with a low shot.
Lewandowski then celebrated his fourth goal of the tournament after breaking through the last line of defence thanks to a precise pass from Lamine Yamal, who fired home to extend the lead. In the second half, the Pole hit the post again.
Koundé added to the lead before the break, firing in a cross from a corner that hit the post before finding the back of the net.
Raphinha was back in the box to finish off the ball after a series of rebounds and find the net. His third goal came after Yamal drove from his area and gave a pass through the centre that left him in front of the goalkeeper, who he beat with a soft shot.
Olmo scored for the second consecutive match by entering the area to finish with a cross shot; in the first half a shot against the post had denied him a goal.
Torres closed the scoring with a new shot from the heart of the area, off a pass from the left wing of Raphinha.
Valladolid, who were stuck in 12th place with four points, were completely outclassed and barely had a shot on goal.
Before the match, Barça players wore a shirt with a Catalan slogan in support of Marc Bernal, the 17-year-old midfielder who left the match against Rayo Vallecano on Tuesday with a ruptured cruciate ligament in his left knee.
