Barcelona's Dominance: Raphinha Shines in Seville

Barcelona turned a hostile night in Seville into another statement of intent, coming from behind to beat Sevilla 3-1 at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan and keep their perfect league record intact.

Hansi Flick’s team were rocked early. In the 19th minute, Youssouf Fofana punished them, putting the home side ahead and igniting the stadium. For a brief spell, Sevilla smelled blood.

The response was ruthless.

Just three minutes later, Raphinha levelled the game, finishing calmly after a sharp, vertical pass from Andreas Christensen sliced through the lines. From that moment, Barcelona seized control and never really let it go.

They pinned Sevilla back, recycled possession with authority, and kept carving out chances. The early scare only seemed to harden them. Flick’s side turned the deficit around with a composure that quietened the stands and underlined why they already look like serious title favourites.

Raphinha the No 9, and the night he owned Seville

This was Raphinha’s game. Completely.

Shifted into a central role after the summer exits of Robert Lewandowski and Ferran Torres, the Brazilian has not just adapted; he has exploded. He added two more goals in the second half to complete his hat-trick, dragging Barcelona clear and taking his league tally to 12 goals in seven appearances.

Every run he made asked a question. Every touch in the box carried danger. Thriving as a true number nine, he now stands at 14 goals and three assists in just eight matches across all competitions this season.

The numbers are outrageous. The rhythm is even more so.

This was his second hat-trick in 72 hours, after his treble in the 7-2 demolition of Racing in the previous round. Different opponent, different context, same outcome: Raphinha walking off with the match ball and the headlines.

On the wings, Lamine Yamal was relentless. The teenager repeatedly attacked Odysseas Vlachodimos’ goal and supplied two crucial assists for Raphinha, stretching Sevilla’s backline until it broke. Every time he isolated his full-back, the home defence braced itself.

Sevilla simply could not live with that combination.

Steel behind the sparkle

All the attacking fireworks would have meant less without a solid base. Barcelona had that too.

Dominik Livakovic, making his debut in goal, looked assured. He handled Sevilla’s efforts with calm hands, dealing with several promising attempts and settling quickly into the pace of La Liga.

In front of him, Pau Cubarsi and Eric Garcia marshalled the backline with maturity. After Fofana’s opener, they shut down space, cut out passing lanes and limited Sevilla to scraps rather than clear sights of goal.

There was one concern for Flick: Christensen limped off in the second half with a thigh issue. Barcelona still held firm, but his fitness will be monitored closely in the coming days.

The broader picture, though, is clear. This is not just a team scoring freely; it is a side that can manage games, absorb pressure and then suffocate opponents with possession and structure.

Top of the table, eyes on what comes next

The win keeps Barcelona comfortably on top of La Liga with 21 points, their start to the domestic season still flawless.

Flick now has a short window to assess Christensen’s condition and fine-tune a squad that looks increasingly in sync. Getafe await on October 10 in the league, a game that offers another chance to extend their lead and keep the momentum rolling.

Three days later comes a different kind of test: Galatasaray in the Champions League, a clash that will measure whether this early-season dominance at home can translate onto the European stage.

Raphinha is firing, the defence is tightening, and the system is clicking. If this is Barcelona still in early-October gear, what happens when they hit full speed?