Raphinha's Hat-Trick Nears Ronaldo's Barcelona Record

Raphinha scored a hat-trick away to Sevilla to put Barcelona above 3-1 winners at the Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán, taking his LaLiga tally to 11 goals in seven matches this season.

That is the best start to a league campaign by a Barcelona player in more than eight decades. It puts him level with the total Lionel Messi managed in seven games in 2017-18, and leaves only Cristiano Ronaldo's mark of 13 goals in seven games, set at Real Madrid in 2014-15, out of reach.

Sevilla led early through Youssouf Fofana's header, set up by Felix Correia, before Raphinha levelled from a Christensen pass with a dropped shoulder that took out the defender. He added a second with a header in the box and completed the treble with a chipped finish, also rattling the woodwork from a corner. Barcelona have now won all seven of their league matches this season without dropping a point.

Across all competitions Raphinha has 11 goals in seven appearances, and in LaLiga alone he sits two clear of Kylian Mbappé in the race for the Pichichi Trophy. Hansi Flick fielded debutant goalkeeper Livakovic in place of the injured Joan Garcia, with Fermín preferred to Olmo and Gordon starting ahead of Adeyemi.

Fermín, speaking after the match, gave his own verdict on his teammate.

Barcelona go into the international break top of the table and will not play again until they host Getafe on 10 October, followed by a trip to Real Betis and El Clásico against Real Madrid at Camp Nou on 25 October. Those fixtures will give Raphinha further chances to close the two-goal gap on Ronaldo's record before the season moves into its heavier run.