Raphinha scored three times as Barcelona ran riot against Racing Santander today (Wednesday night) with João Cancelo, Lamine Yamal and Gabriel Jesus also finding the net in a seven-goal rout, in which starter Karim Adeyemi played a starring role to set up some of the goals.
The seventh win in as many La Liga games this season for Barcelona continued the Catalans’ perfect start to the season.
Barça started the game as the dominant side, creating a few half chances, with the best chance falling to Raphinha inside the box, but his effort was well kept out.
First Goal
But just seconds after Raphinha’s opportunity, the ball fell to João Cancelo 25 yards out, and the Portuguese full-back unleashed a venomous strike which struck the crossbar before bouncing over the goal line, giving the hosts the early lead they have become accustomed to.
It continued to be one-way traffic as Barça dominated the ball with over 80% possession and eight shots within the opening 20 minutes of action.
Karim Adeyemi should have made it two as he was one-on-one with the goalkeeper, but his delicate chip bounced just past the post.
Second Goal Via Penalty
With 22 minutes on the clock, the home side yet again sliced through Racing Santander as Raphinha was played through on goal before being taken down in the penalty area by Pedro Felipe.
The Barcelona captain stepped forward to take the penalty he won, and made no mistake as he fired in his side’s second of the contest, and his seventh of the LaLiga season already.
Andreas Christensen should have made it three soon after as he found himself on the end of a well-worked corner routine, but his header from close range was the wrong side of the post.
Opponents Slash Deficit
Out of absolutely nothing, Racing got a goal back. With one of their first attacks of the game, they moved the ball quickly through Barcelona’s press, with Maguette Gueye taking the ball into the box before coolly finishing past Joan García to cut the deficit to one against the run of play.
Barca Score Again
The one-goal advantage didn’t last long as Cancelo once again found space at the edge of the box and, with the confidence of his earlier strike, let loose again, with the same final result as he picked out the top corner in incredible fashion. It took a slight deflection on the way in, but the Portuguese defender did not care as he equalled his goal tally from last season within 35 minutes.
Raphinha Scores Again
The first-half goal fest continued as Raphinha fired home his second of the evening. Racing got caught trying to pass out from defence, with Barça breaking quickly and Dani Olmo finding the Brazilian in the box, and he stayed composed to find the net.
Adeyemi Brought Down In Penalty, Yamal Misses
Minutes later, Felipe committed another foul in the box as he brought down Adeyemi, as Lamine Yamal stepped up but saw his penalty saved well by Agirrezabala.
How Second Half Went, More Goals In
The second half began with big opportunities at both ends. Arana passed up a huge chance for the visitors to get one back before Yamal hit the woodwork after nice work from Raphinha.
Racing were given a gift by substitute goalkeeper Szczęsny, who had come on at half-time for García. The experienced Polish shot-stopper was caught on the ball by Yassir Zabiri, allowing the Moroccan to fire home from close range.
Seconds after the restart, Barça found themselves in on goal with the ball being squared to Adeyemi, who was yet again taken down in the box, winning another penalty for his side.
Raphinha took on the responsibility of this one after allowing Yamal the previous one, and unlike the Spaniard, he made no mistake as he completed his hat-trick, continuing his remarkable start to the new season.
Yamal thought he finally had the goal he was desperate for after he found the net with a brilliant finish, but he was denied by an offside flag raised by the linesman.
Barcelona found their sixth with 78 minutes on the clock, as substitute Gabriel Jesus got in on the act. Yamal slid the ball through to the Brazilian, who fired home brilliantly into the top corner.
After 89 minutes, Yamal did eventually get the goal he was desperate for. It was all down to brilliant work from Adeyemi down the left, before the German teed up the teenager who scored to complete the Barcelona rout, continuing their perfect start to the season in the process.
*PHOTO CAPTION: L-R: Adeyemi, Cancelo and Raphinha celebrate one of the Barca goals… tonight.
RESULTS OF MATCHES PLAYED IN LA LIGA & EUROPA LEAGUE TODAY, WEDNESDAY,16 SEPT:
SPAIN: LaLiga
Atl. Madrid – Osasuna 4-0
Dep. A Coruna – Sevilla 0-1
Barcelona – Racing Santander 7-2
Postponed: Levante – Ath Bilbao –
EUROPE: Europa League – League Phase
Ararat-Armenia – Sparta Prague 1-4
Omonia – Celta Vigo 1-0
AC Milan – Benfica 0-2
Anderlecht – Lyon 1-2
Bayer Leverkusen – Celje 2-0
H. Beer Sheva – Din. Zagreb 0-0
Olympiacos Piraeus – Jagiellonia 2-1
Sturm Graz – Rennes 0-0
Sunderland – AZ Alkmaar 1-0.
