Barca hits Racing for seven

BARCELONA — Raphinha scored a hat-trick as La Liga leader Barcelona ripped Racing Santander to shreds in a spectacular 7-2 triumph on Wednesday.

Atletico Madrid thrashed Osasuna 4-0 to build form and confidence ahead of Sunday's derby clash against Real Madrid.

On Tuesday Real Madrid had pulled level with Barcelona after a 3-2 win at Elche, but the Catalans reestablished their three-point advantage with an avalanche of goals against 10th-placed Racing.

As well as Raphinha's treble, Joao Cancelo, Gabriel Jesus and Lamine Yamal also scored for the unstoppable Catalan giant, which has netted 33 goals in seven games across all competitions.

"For me the most important thing is that we are always focused, with every pass. It's like conversation, a good conversation," Barca coach Hansi Flick told DAZN.

Despite the superb start, Raphinha said he still wanted more from himself and his teammates.

"It's always important to think you need to improve in some way," Raphinha told DAZN. "I'll never tell you I'm at my best level, because I always try to improve as much as I can, and give more to the team than I am currently giving."

With lightning flashing above Camp Nou, Barca took the lead with a thunderbolt from Cancelo, before Raphinha won and converted a penalty for Barca's second.

Racing Santander pulled one back when Maguette Gueye barged his way through and produced a neat finish to beat Barca goalkeeper Joan Garcia.

However, it proved only a brief respite for the visitor, with Cancelo forcing the third with another longrange effort which deflected in off Asier Villalibre.

Raphinha, thriving while playing as Barca's center-forward, bagged Barca's fourth after he was played in on goal by Dani Olmo.

Teenage star Yamal should have added a fifth after the electric Karim Adeyemi was brought down in the box, but Racing stopper Julen Agirrezabala saved his penalty.

Barca reserve keeper Wojciech Szczesny replaced Garcia at halftime after the Spain international appeared to hurt himself while slipping on the wet pitch as he went to get the ball.

Flick said the goalkeeper had "some problems" with his knee but hoped he would be ready to play over the weekend.

Yamal hit the post and later had a goal ruled out for offside as the rain lashed down in the second half.

Yassir Zabiri pulled another back for Racing after a dreadful error from Szczesny.

AFP