Raphinha scores hat-trick as Barcelona beat Sevilla

Raphinha scored a hat-trick as La Liga leaders Barcelona easily beat struggling Sevilla.

The Brazilian chipped in the first of two penalties in the ninth minute after Joao Cancelo had been fouled by Djibril Sow.

Raphinha’s second spot-kick, awarded by the video assistant referee (VAR) following Jose Angel Carmona’s handball to stop Cancelo, was slotted into the bottom corner 12 minutes later.

Dani Olmo looked to have made the game safe at Spotify Camp Nou with a tidy first-time finish from 16 yards.

But Oso’s cushioned volley, his first goal in senior football, gave Sevilla hope just before the break.

However, Hansi Flick’s side continued their dominance to wrap things up in the second half.

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First, Raphinha’s shot was heavily deflected by Nemanja Gudelj and looped into the top corner six minutes after the restart.

Cancelo then ran from the halfway line before firing in their fifth on the hour mark.

Seconds before the end, Sow headed in a consolation from Oso’s cross.

Barcelona are four points ahead of Real Madrid with 10 games to go, while Sevilla are 14th, only five points above the relegation zone.

Raphinha was replaced in the 82nd minute, to a standing ovation, by Gavi, making his first appearance since August after a serious knee injury.

The Catalans, in between their two Champions League last-16 ties with Newcastle, also brought on Lamine Yamal as a second-half substitute.

Barca are at home to Eddie Howe’s men in the second leg on Wednesday (17:45 GMT), having drawn 1-1 on Tyneside last week.