14 goals in 8 matches: Raphinha on a golden streak
Raphinha produced another sensational performance as Barcelona continued their remarkable start to the La Liga season with a 3-1 victory over Sevilla on Saturday.
The Brazilian forward stole the show with a superb hattrick, scoring with his right foot, his head and finally his left foot to complete a perfect hat-trick. The victory kept Barcelona’s 100 percent record intact after eight league matches and moved Hansi Flick’s side six points clear of Real Madrid ahead of their derby against Atlético Madrid.
Raphinha’s numbers this season are extraordinary. The forward has now scored 14 goals in eight appearances across all competitions, including 12 in La Liga and two in the Champions League. His second consecutive hat-trick came after he struck three times against Racing de Santander in Barcelona’s previous match.
His incredible scoring run has also seen him rewrite part of Barcelona’s history. With 14 goals in his first eight appearances, Raphinha has surpassed Cesar Rodríguez’s previous club record of 13 goals at the same stage of a season, set in the 1948-49 campaign.
His La Liga record is equally impressive. Raphinha has scored 12 goals in his first seven league appearances, a tally surpassed at that stage of a season only by Echevarria of Oviedo, who scored 14 in 1943-44, and Cristiano Ronaldo, who scored 13 for Real Madrid in 2014-15.
A NEW ROLE, A NEW RAPHINHA
One of the biggest surprises of Barcelona’s season has been Raphinha’s transformation into a central attacking figure.
Playing in the unfamiliar No. 9 role, the Brazilian has adapted brilliantly to Flick’s system. Rather than simply filling the position, he has become one of Barcelona’s most dangerous attacking weapons, combining movement, finishing and creativity to devastating effect.
His latest performance against Sevilla demonstrated his versatility. The first goal came from his right foot, the second with his head and the third with his left, completing a rare perfect hattrick.
It was the first time a Barcelona player had scored a perfect hattrick since Luis Suarez achieved the feat against Cordoba on May 2, 2015.
JOINING MESSI AND SUAREZ
Raphinha has now scored hattricks in consecutive La Liga matches, a feat that had not been achieved in the competition since Antoine Griezmann did it during the 2017-18 season.
For Barcelona, the achievement places Raphinha alongside some of the club’s greatest attacking stars. Before him, only Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez had managed consecutive La Liga hattricks for the Catalan giants.
Barcelona’s perfect start is another milestone in itself. Flick’s side have won their opening eight league matches for the first time in the club’s history, heading into the international break at the top of the table.
For Raphinha, however, the numbers tell only part of the story. He has embraced a new position, taken responsibility for leading the attack and turned himself into the focal point of Barcelona’s extraordinary opening to the campaign.
“We know the quality of Raphinha and we're very happy about him, he gives us a lot,” Barcelona coach Hansi Flick said after the match.
At this rate, Raphinha is not simply enjoying a good run of form -- he is creating a season that is already beginning to look historic.
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