Raphinha Bags Hat-Trick as Barca Trounce Valladolid in La Liga
©MANU QUINTERO / AFP
Brazil winger Raphinha scored a hat-trick as Barcelona thrashed Real Valladolid 7-0 on Saturday to make it four wins from four in La Liga under new coach Hansi Flick.

While bitter rivals Real Madrid have stumbled early following the much-trumpeted arrival of Kylian Mbappe, Barcelona are off to a flying start despite their continued financial difficulties.

Raphinha opened the scoring at the Olympic Stadium on 20 minutes as he chested down a pass from Pau Cubarsi and flicked elegantly into the far corner with the outside of his left boot.

Robert Lewandowski soon doubled the lead when he latched onto a ball through from Lamine Yamal and squeezed a shot past Valladolid goalkeeper Karl Hein, on loan from Arsenal.

Jules Kounde scored the third goal before half-time when a corner dropped to the French defender inside the area and he stabbed into the top corner while off-balance.


Raphinha had a simple tap-in from close range just past the hour, with Lewandowski and Yamal involved before the ball broke kindly for the Brazilian.

He completed his treble on 72 minutes following a brilliant burst forward from Yamal, who then slid through a delightful pass for Raphinha to stroke home.

Dani Olmo, who got the winner midweek at Rayo Vallecano, on his debut, struck with his final touch as he danced past a series of defenders and rolled in Barcelona's sixth goal.

Raphinha rounded off a glittering performance with the assist for Ferran Torres as Barcelona hit a seventh goal, fizzing in a cross from the left for the substitute to steer home in clinical fashion.

With AFP
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