Brazilian winger Raphinha netted a hat-trick as Barcelona demolished Real Valladolid 7-0 on Saturday, securing their fourth consecutive win in La Liga under new coach Hansi Flick.
While arch-rivals Real Madrid have faltered despite the highly anticipated arrival of Kylian Mbappé, Barcelona have surged ahead, even amidst ongoing financial challenges.
Raphinha opened the scoring 20 minutes into the match at the Olympic Stadium, skillfully controlling a pass from Pau Cubarsi on his chest before elegantly flicking the ball into the far corner with the outside of his left foot.
Robert Lewandowski quickly made it 2-0, slotting a shot past Valladolid’s on-loan goalkeeper Karl Hein after receiving a through ball from Lamine Yamal.
Jules Koundé added a third goal before halftime, pouncing on a loose ball inside the area from a corner and expertly stabbing it into the top corner despite being off-balance.
Just after the hour mark, Raphinha scored his second with an easy tap-in, benefiting from the efforts of Lewandowski and Yamal as the ball fell perfectly for him to finish.
Raphinha completed his hat-trick in the 72nd minute, capping off a brilliant run by Yamal, who set him up with a perfectly timed pass for a smooth finish.
Dani Olmo, who scored the winner midweek against Rayo Vallecano in his debut, added a sixth goal with his final touch, weaving through defenders before calmly slotting the ball into the net.
Raphinha concluded his standout performance by assisting Ferran Torres for Barcelona’s seventh goal, delivering a precise cross from the left that the substitute clinically steered home.