Raphinha scored the first hat-trick of his career and provided two assists to inspire an imperious Barcelona to a 7-0 rout of Real Valladolid in LaLiga on Saturday.
Barcelona will go to the international break top of the table with a perfect 12 points from four games, five ahead second-placed Villarreal and seven clear of bitter rivals Real Madrid in fourth, both of whom have a game in hand.
Facing a Valladolid team who gave Madrid a tough game last weekend, Barcelona were ruthless and showed from the start why they have been Spain’s most impressive side this season under new manager Hansi Flick.
Raphinha and Robert Lewandowski gave the host a two-goal lead within four minutes with similar efforts from counterattacks, controlling long balls by Pau Cubarsí and Lamine Yamal before tidy finishes past the goalkeeper.
Jules Koundé extended the lead striking a rebound from a corner in added time before the break and, after Lewandowski hit the post, Raphinha scored twice from close range to extend Barça’s lead.
The Brazil international continued his masterclass with an assist to new signing Dani Olmo who, after hitting the post twice and missing an absolute sitter from close-range, finally managed to score in the 82nd minute in his first start for Barça.
Substitute Ferran Torres completed the drubbing from another assist by Raphinha who is second in the LaLiga top-scorer race with three goals, one behind Lewandowski.
While bitter rivals Real Madrid have stumbled early following the much-trumpeted arrival of Kylian Mbappe, Barca are off to a flying start despite their continued financial difficulties.
Raphinha opened the scoring at Olympic Stadium on 20 minutes as he chested down a pass from Pau Cubarsi and flicked elegantly into the far corner with the outside of his left boot.
Robert Lewandowski soon doubled the lead when he latched onto a ball through from Lamine Yamal and squeezed a shot past Valladolid goalkeeper Karl Hein, on loan from Arsenal.
Jules Kounde made it three before half-time when a corner dropped to the France defender inside the area and he stabbed into the top corner while off-balance.
Raphinha had a simple tap-in from close range just past the hour, with Lewandowski and Yamal involved before the ball broke kindly for the Brazilian.
He completed his treble on 72 minutes following a brilliant burst forward from Yamal, who then slid through a delightful pass for Raphinha to stroke home.
Dani Olmo, who got the winner midweek at Rayo Vallecano, on his debut, struck with his final touch as he danced past a series of defenders and rolled in Barca’s sixth.
Raphinha rounded off a glittering performance with the assist for Ferran Torres as Barca hit a seventh, fizzing in a cross from the left for the substitute to steer home in clinical fashion.
