Barcelona score five against Rayo as Hamza Abdelkarim makes debut

Barcelona maintained their perfect start to the La Liga season with a 5-2 victory over Rayo Vallecano at Camp Nou, while Egypt international Hamza Abdelkarim made his official debut for the Catalan club.

The result gave Barcelona nine points from their opening three matches and moved them to the top of the table on goal difference from Real Madrid. Rayo Vallecano remain on one point.

Raphinha scored twice for the hosts, with Lamine Yamal also finding the net on two occasions. Rayo’s goals both came from Sergio Camello, while Florian Lejeune scored an own goal for Barcelona.

Abdelkarim came on in the 85th minute, replacing Raphinha, in his first official appearance for Barcelona.

Raphinha’s two goals took his league tally to five in Barcelona’s first three matches of the campaign. He is the first player to reach that total in the opening three games since Lionel Messi did so in the 2017-18 season.

Anthony Gordon also continued his impressive creative start for Barcelona, recording three assists in his first three matches. That is already one more than he managed across the whole of last season with Newcastle United in the Premier League.

Rayo make fast start before Barcelona respond

Rayo Vallecano began with attacking intent and took the lead after 12 minutes. Alvaro Garcia delivered an excellent cross into the area, which Sergio Camello converted to put the visitors ahead.

Barcelona levelled seven minutes later through Raphinha. The Brazil international produced a strong individual run, evaded several Rayo defenders and finished beyond the goalkeeper.

Their comeback was completed almost immediately as Yamal struck in the 21st minute. The teenager collected the ball outside the box before sending a powerful effort into the net to give Barcelona a 2-1 advantage.

Marc Bernal then tested the Rayo goalkeeper with another long-range strike in the 40th minute, but the effort was saved.

Barcelona appeared to have added a third shortly before half-time when Jules Kounde found the net in the 45th minute. However, the goal was ruled out for offside after a VAR review.

Hansi Flick had started with the same attacking trio that featured against Athletic Club, with Raphinha, Gordon and Yamal leading the line. Abdelkarim was introduced after the interval.

Barcelona restored their two-goal advantage in the 52nd minute when Lejeune turned Gordon’s cross into his own net.

Rayo were handed a route back into the match in the 59th minute after a mistake in the Barcelona defence allowed Camello to score his second goal of the evening.

Raphinha and Yamal seal Barcelona victory

Barcelona eventually pulled clear in the 71st minute. Gordon supplied a backheel pass for Raphinha, who finished to make it 4-2 and put the result beyond serious doubt.

Abdelkarim entered the game 14 minutes later, taking Raphinha’s place for his landmark first appearance.

Yamal completed the scoring in the 90th minute, receiving a pass from Karim Adeyemi before firing home from outside the penalty area.

The win was Barcelona’s third in succession and kept them at the summit of La Liga, level on points with Real Madrid but ahead on goal difference.