BARCELONA.- He FC Barcelonaleader of LaLigabeat this Sunday 5-2 at Seville with hat-trick from the Brazilian Raphinhaa result that serves as a boost to the Blaugranas before the second leg of the round of 16 of the European Champions League against Newcastle (1-1 in the first leg).
Thanks to a hat trick from the Brazilian attacker (9′ penalty, 21′ penalty, 51′) and the goals of Dani Olmo (38′) and from the Portuguese João Cancelo (60′), the Catalan club regained four points advantage over its main pursuer, real Madridwho had beaten 4-1 on Saturday Elche.
For Sevilla Matias Almeyda glow Bearwith a goal just before the break (45+3′, 3-1) and an assist in added time to the Swiss Djibril Sow (90+2′). The Seville team remains in the lower half of the table with 31 points (14th position), five behind Elche, the first team to mark the relegation spots.
Beyond the result, the great news for Barça was the return of the midfielder Gavi after six months of injury. The youngster entered the field to a standing ovation in the 82nd minute, replacing captain Raphinha.
“It has been very hard”
“It has been very hard, much harder than the other time, the truth is that I have had a pretty bad time,” the 21-year-old commented to the DAZN broadcaster, in reference to the injury that has already kept him off the field for almost the entire 2023/2024 season.
“It has been the most painful process and it has cost me more every day. But the feeling with the Camp Nou, with my people, with the fans and my teammates is unique,” added Gavi with the captain’s armband, which Raphinha handed him during the change.
On Wednesday the men of Hansi Flick They will host Newcastle in the second leg of the Champions League round of 16, after the 1-1 first leg in the north of England.
With that duel in mind, German coach Flick rested Lamine Yamal in a match that soon turned upside down after two penalties committed by Sevilla, the first due to a foul by Sow on Cancelo in the area and the second due to a handball from Jose Angel Carmona.
Raphinha did not forgive from eleven meters, with two shots unreachable for the goalkeeper Odysseas Vlachodimos.
Before the break, Olmo took advantage of a clearance after a cross into the area Marc Bernal to put the third goal on the scoreboard, although Oso was able to close the gap after a good cross from Juanlu Sánchez.
Barça presidential elections
But in the second half, first Raphinha to seal his hat-trick and then Cancelo in a display of offensive play, they put things in between, closing the match.
Already in added time, and with the FC Barcelona players thinking about the next match against Newcastle, Sow finished off a cross from Oso to decorate the scoreboard.
Sunday’s match, corresponding to the 28th round of the Spanish league, was also held in the middle of an election day to elect the new president of the Catalan club, with the current president Joan Laporta and his rival Victor Font as candidates. The result will be known this Sunday.
Hours before, the Majorca (16th) left the relegation spots after beating 2-1 against Spanish (7th).
Besides, Betis and Celtic They face each other in a direct duel for places in European competitions and Royal Society and Osasuna They will meet in San Sebastián on Sunday. The day will close on Monday with the Rayo Vallecano – Levant.
