Raphinha bags hat-trick as Barcelona thrash Sevilla 5-2

n n

Raphinha bagged a hat-trick as Barcelona thrashed Sevilla 5-2 to restore their four-point lead at the top of La Liga on Sunday.

n

After Real Madrid cut the gap by beating Elche on Saturday the Spanish champions responded by romping to a comfortable victory.

n

Dani Olmo and Joao Cancelo also struck for Hansi Flick’s side, who host Newcastle in the Champions League on Wednesday.

n

Fans streamed to the stadium to vote in the club’s presidential elections, with either Joan Laporta or Victor Font to be announced the new chief later on Sunday night.

n

After the 1-1 draw in Newcastle in the last-16 first leg, Flick left Lamine Yamal on the bench and handed youngster Xavi Espart his first start, at right-back.

n

Barcelona were handed two penalties by a sorry Sevilla side to get off to the perfect start at the partially-rebuilt Camp Nou, which finally received clearance to open the north stand.

n

Around 56,000 fans attended and they were able to watch a fairly straightforward rout of the Andalucians, 14th.

n

Djibril Sow clumsily clipped rampaging Barca full-back Cancelo in the box and Raphinha dinked home from the spot to open the scoring in the ninth minute.

n

The Brazilian winger was afforded another penalty to put Barca two goals up when Jose Angel Carmona, lying on the floor, handled as Cancelo tried to dribble around him.

n

This time Raphinha fired it low to the left and although Odysseas Vlachodimos went the right way he could not keep it out.

n

The hosts netted a third in the 38th minute when Marc Bernal’s deflected cross from the left found Olmo, who produced a clinical finish.

n

Sevilla pulled one back before the break when Juanlu Sanchez got in behind Cancelo and crossed for Oso to score unmarked at the back post.

n

Raphinha completed his hat-trick early in the second half with a heavily deflected shot as Barca strolled in the spring sunshine.

n

Cancelo capped an impressive attacking display with a goal of his own, driving into the box and finishing through Vlachodimos’s legs.

n

Barca coach Flick sent on 21-year-old midfielder Gavi for the final 10 minutes, for his first appearance since August after suffering a severe knee injury.

n

Sow pulled another one back for Sevilla in stoppage time, nodding home Oso’s cross, with Barcelona already thinking about Newcastle’s visit on Wednesday.

n n