Barcelona 7-2 Racing Santander: Raphinha hat-trick extends La Liga leaders’ perfect start

Barcelona strengthened their position at the top of La Liga with a 7-2 victory over Racing Santander at Camp Nou, as Raphinha scored three times in a seven-goal display.

Joao Cancelo added two goals, while Gabriel Jesus and Lamine Yamal were also on target for Hans Flick’s side. Racing Santander’s goals came from Maget Joy and Yasser Zabiri.

The result moved Barcelona to 18 points after six matches, while Racing Santander remain on seven points in 10th place.

Barcelona became the first team to score 27 goals in their opening six matches of a La Liga season since Sevilla scored 32 in the 1940-41 campaign.

Flick has now won 77% of his matches in all official competitions since taking charge of Barcelona, recording 95 victories in 124 games. That is the best win rate of any Barcelona manager in the 21st century, ahead of Luis Enrique’s 76%.

Raphinha’s hat-trick took his tally to 11 goals in all official competitions this season, making him the leading scorer among players from clubs in Europe’s five major leagues.

Barcelona make fast start

Flick made several changes to his starting line-up, with Karim Adeyemi replacing Anthony Gordon, Andreas Christensen coming in for Pau Cubarsi and Dani Olmo starting instead of Fermin Lopez.

Barcelona took the lead after nine minutes when Cancelo struck a powerful shot beyond the Racing goalkeeper. Raphinha doubled the advantage from the penalty spot in the 26th minute.

Racing responded five minutes later through Maget Joy, but Barcelona restored their two-goal cushion in the 35th minute when Cancelo scored again with another powerful effort.

Raphinha added his second goal of the game shortly before half-time, finding the net in the 42nd minute. Yamal then missed a penalty in first-half stoppage time.

Racing reduced the deficit again in the 65th minute when Yasser Zabiri scored after an error by Barcelona substitute goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny.

Barcelona responded almost immediately, with Raphinha completing his hat-trick from the penalty spot in the 68th minute.

Yamal appeared to score after an individual run four minutes later, but the goal was ruled out for offside. He later provided the assist for Gabriel Jesus, who made it 6-2 in the 79th minute.

Barcelona completed the scoring in the 89th minute when Adeyemi’s individual work created the opportunity for Yamal to finish.

Barcelona face Sevilla next Saturday in the seventh round of La Liga, while Racing Santander play Celta Vigo on the same day.