Raphinha stars in Racing rout

Barcelona forward and captain Raphinha scored a hat-trick as Barcelona scored seven goals against Racing Santander at the Camp Nou on Wednesday evening.

The home side took the lead in the seventh minute through a brilliant long-range strike from Joao Cancelo after being set up by Lamine Yamal.

Barca doubled their lead from the penalty spot in the 25th minute, with Raphinha stepping up to convert after being fouled from behind in the box.

However, the visitors pulled a goal back just five minutes later when Manguette Gueye drilled a low finish into the bottom left corner from inside the penalty box.

Barcelona responded with another thunderbolt effort from Cancelo in the 36th minute that took a deflection off Racing goalkeeper Asier Villalibre into the net, restoring a two-goal lead.

Raphinha extended the lead shortly before half time with a neat finish inside the box following a Dani Olmo assist before Yamal missed a penalty at the stroke of half time.

Santander proved to be determined in the second half, holding their own until Yassir Zabiri swept home a second goal for his side to decrease the deficit after substitute Wojciech Szczesny's error.

Two minutes later, Barca were handed a third penalty, which captain Raphinha cooly converted to complete his hat-trick and make the score 5-2.

Another substitute Gabriel Jesus nabbed the sixth goal in the 79th minute before Yamal put the icing on the cake ten minutes later to seal a dominant win.

"We played well and the result is top," said Barca head coach Hansi Flick after the match.

"I like the team's bravery, and that we've stayed focused. When we're less [brave], the opposition creates danger and scores goals. We need to change that a bit and also learn from it."

Flick's side become the first Barcelona team to win their first seven matches of a La Liga season.

Atletico brush aside Osasuna

Atletico Madrid moved up to third on the league table following a convincing 4-0 win against Osasuna at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano.

The home team took a deserved lead in the 24th minute when Jonathan David scored his first goal for the club after a dominant start to the first half.

Another new signing Lee Kang-in doubled the scoreline just nine minutes into the second half slotting in a low finish after being set up by a Jonathan David pass.

Spanish defender Robin Le Normand extended the lead for Atleti with a powerful shot inside the box to register his first goal of the season in the 63rd minute.

Atletico added a fourth goal in the 82nd minute with Alex Baena expertly finishing from ten meters out after being teed up by Johnny Cardoso.

"In previous matches, our performances have been in patches,"admitted Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone after the match.

"A good first half in Bilbao and at Liverpool, a good second half in San Sebastián, and a solid performance throughout in Seville.

"This time we were more consistent throughout the match. We controlled it in the first half even though we weren't clinical; we were clinical in the second half and maintained control."

The result sees Osasuna slip to 13th on the table.

Sevilla edge ten-man Deportivo to go fourth

Sevilla secured a hard-fought 1-0 victory over a resolute Deportivo La Coruna at the Riazor Stadium.

The visitors controlled the tempo of the first half after a cautious start from both sides with Seville's Miguel Angel Sierra and Felix Correira coming closest to score as they limited Deportivo to a single shot in the half.

It took seven minutes for Sevilla to take the lead in the second half as Sierra slotted home a neat finish after reacting quickest to a rebound from goalkeeper Leo Roman.

Deportivo were reduced to ten men in the 58th minute after Angelino was shown a red card for a serious foul on goalscorer Sierra.

However, the home side held firm despite the numerical disadvantage but could not find a way back into the fixture.

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