Raphinha’s extra-terrestrial feats, Rodri’s masterclass | Three takeaways from Sevilla 1-3 Barcelona

Raphinha’s extra-terrestrial feats, Rodri’s masterclass | Three takeaways from Sevilla 1-3 Barcelona Barcelona’s test against Sevilla at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan last night was anything but simple, and the Blaugrana were made to work extremely hard for the three points. The hosts took the lead early in the game and dominated a good part of the first half, fighting on level ground with Barcelona and forcing errors off Flick’s men. Raphinha, however, equalised soon after and ensured Barcelona entered half-time on level terms. After the break, he combined twice with Lamine Yamal to put the game to bed. Barcelona’s performance after the break was impressive as they made easy work of Sevilla and did not hand them much space or opportunity to press. In the face of adversity, the Catalans stepped up and delivered a perfect 45 minutes of football. Barça Universal brings you three takeaways from Sevilla 1-3 Barcelona. Raphinha is extra-terrestrial At this point, Raphinha’s efficiency in the final third is getting laughably good, for what he is producing week in and week out is simply bonkers. Raphinha is in unreal form. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images) The Brazilian star just netted a hat-trick midweek and earned the man-of-the-match award, and last night, he netted a second straight hat-trick in La Liga. His start to the season is something simply unheard of. What made Raphinha’s hat-trick last night all the more special, however, was the manner in which he converted each of his chances – showcasing a serious ability to score from all kinds of situations. To open the scoring, the Brazilian forward received the ball in a tight angle, turned steeply to break the defender’s ankle and drove it low into the back of the net – pulling off one of his best finishes yet of the tournament. His second goal tested a completely different style of finishing as he was forced to head the ball past the goalkeeper from close range, and he passed with flying colours. He could well have scored his hat-trick directly from a corner with an Olimpico but was denied by the post. Nevertheless, he did eventually get the third, and it came with a calm lob over the goalkeeper under pressure. From not being a natural striker to being the best on the planet in his position, Raphinha’s season has been shockingly good and Barcelona will only hope he can stay fit throughout. Rodri’s masterclass Rodri’s adaptation to life at Barcelona has been absolutely seamless, but his short time at the club peaked last night against Sevilla in a game where he absolutely bossed the midfield. The hosts’ plan was clear from the get-go as they strived to disrupt Barcelona’s game with physicality and aggression – something the Catalans have shown to struggle against. Further, they pressed high to complicate Barcelona’s buildup. Rodri, however, stood tall as an immovable force in the middle of the park and controlled the game for Barcelona when the rest of his teammates struggled to keep up with the physicality. His imposing figure and presence cut off Sevilla’s attacks time and time again, and his ability to convert defensive interceptions into attacking actions formed the basis of Barcelona’s plan on the night. The former Manchester City star pulled off a defensive masterclass and directly prevented at least two goals with his interceptions in the box, beyond just his role in the defensive midfield. A world-class signing who is playing like he was always a Blaugrana. Signing off in perfect fashion Flick’s Barcelona are yet to drop a point this season. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images) When the season began, Barcelona stared at eight games before the first international break of the season. Given the centre-forward situation, it remains unclear what would be a good start. What the Catalans have produced, however, is simply bizarre as they have now wrapped up eight wins in the period and scored a stunning 36 goals in the process. They sit on a perfect record in La Liga with 21 points after seven games and are even close to the top of the UCL table with a strong goal difference. Their start to the season simply could not have been better. The win over Sevilla was Barcelona’s most difficult challenge yet, and the manner in which they bossed the second half and gave the opponent no chance will be a massive positive takeaway.  In that sense, Barcelona have signed off perfectly ahead of the first international break. There is a mountain to climb once club football returns, but the momentum is in Barcelona’s favour.