Barcelona’s perfect start to the LaLiga season continued with a 3-1 win over Sevilla, but this was very different from the 7-2 win from Racing Santander a few days earlier.

Sevilla made Barcelona work for it. They pressed, created problems and even took the lead through Youssouf Fofana in the 18th minute. For a while, Barcelona looked unusually uncomfortable and struggled to create the kind of chances they had been producing so freely in their previous games.

Then Raphinha took over. The Barcelona captain scored three times to turn the game around, with Lamine Yamal assisting two. It was his second consecutive hat-trick, taking his LaLiga tally to 12 goals in seven games.

Sevilla gave Barcelona a problem they could not outscore as a solution 

Barcelona have spent much of this season making games look easier than they should. Against Sevilla, that did not happen. The hosts started aggressively and became the second team to take the lead against Barcelona this season.

Barcelona’s response was almost immediate, though. Raphinha equalised four minutes later, after running onto Andreas Christensen’s pass. The equalizer, however, did not suddenly make the game comfortable.

Sevilla continued to create problems and came close to retaking the lead before half-time. At one point, Fofana’s backheel released Correia, but Rodri made an important tackle to prevent the chance from becoming a goal.

Raphinha is becoming Barcelona’s difference-maker

There is not much left to say about Raphinha that his numbers have not already said. With another hattrick and his goal tally now in double digits, he has officially becomes Barca’s go-to man in games. The 30 year-old is not a traditional No. 9, but he has been more prolific than any other striker this season so far.

His first goal brought Barcelona level. His second put them ahead in the 52nd minute after good work from Lamine Yamal, and his third came in the 69th minute when Yamal again found him behind the Sevilla defence.

At this point, calling him just another part of Barcelona’s attack does not quite capture his importance. He is becoming the player they turn to when the game needs changing.

Yamal’s impact without the scoreboard

Lamine Yamal’s name usually appears next to the goals these days, but this was one of those games where his influence was more obvious in the build-up.

He assisted Raphinha’s second and third goals, with the second coming after some excellent footwork before finding the Brazil International. 

Against Sevilla, he was still able to create the decisive moments even when the hosts were making it difficult for him to find space. So yes, Yamal left without a goal, but his contribution was still significant.

Barcelona’s defence still needs attention

Despite all the positives, this was not a perfect performance. Barcelona conceded first and had moments when Sevilla looked capable of scoring again. Rodri’s tackle before half-time was particularly important, and Dominik Livaković also had to make interventions, coming in for the injured Joan García.

There was also concern for Andreas Christensen, who was forced off in the second half with an injury. This is becoming a recurring theme with Barcelona. Their attack is good enough to make defensive problems easy to overlook. But Sevilla showed why that cannot be the long-term solution.

Barcelona were not in complete control for large parts of the first half. Sevilla were aggressive, creating chances and making the visitors uncomfortable. The difference was that Barcelona eventually found a way through.

READ ALSO:

• Tactical Analysis: Why Barcelona and Real Madrid face two different problems
• Man City’s 115 charges scandal gives the Premier League a golden chance
• Is Lamine Yamal begging for the Ballon d’Or?
• Manchester City’s 115 charges: What does it mean for Manchester United?
• Player Analysis: The Florian Wirtz you want vs the one you have

This does not mean the defensive concerns have disappeared.  It means Hansi Flick’s men can overwhelm opponents with their attacking football. They can also absorb a difficult spell, wait for the right moments and rely on their best players to turn the game around.

And right now, Raphinha is proving to be very good at being that player.

Barcelona are still unbeaten, but the matches are getting more testy and a bit challenging.