Raphinha and Lamine Yamal both scored two goals apiece. Their performance carried Barcelona to a 5-2 win over Rayo Vallecano, reclaiming the top spot in La Liga.
The hosts landed an early blow, though. In the 12th minute, Sergio Camello put Rayo ahead, finishing off a pass from Alvaro Garcia. But Barcelona quickly rallied. Raphinha equalized in the 19th minute, and two minutes later, Yamal put Barcelona ahead with a superb goal.
Barcelona have now scored 12 goals in their first three matches of the season.
After the match, coach Hansi Flick said: “The most important thing is the three points. We’ve had a good start to the season, which is what we wanted. We played very well in the first half. What I saw, I really liked. In the second half, the opponent grew stronger, pressed well and scored a goal. We ran into some trouble then. But the way we responded after Rayo’s first and second goals was good.”
He added: “Of course, we need to improve in some moments. We need to hold on to control of the match, because keeping possession is also part of our strategy. When we have the ball, it’s also easier to recover our energy. In the end, we need to improve a bit more in those areas.”
Yamal, a World Cup winner with Spain, scored a brilliant first-half goal that was his first of the 2026-27 season. But that wasn’t his last — he found the net again in the match’s final moments.
On Yamal, Flick said: “He always wants to improve, and he’s able to. I’m very happy with him. The way he played today, the way he played football, was outstanding to watch. He’s at an incredible level right now, as far as I’m concerned.”
Early in the second half, Rayo’s Florian Lejeune turned the ball into his own net. Camello then pulled a goal back with his second of the match, but two more goals from Raphinha and Yamal sealed a comfortable win for Barcelona in the end.
Rayo, winless in their first two matches, pressed Barcelona aggressively from the start. In the 12th minute, they stunned the Camp Nou crowd with Camello’s goal, finished off a pinpoint pass from Alvaro Garcia.
It was the first goal Barcelona had conceded this season. But the hosts snapped back into gear quickly after conceding.
Raphinha’s shot went straight into the hands of Rayo goalkeeper Dani Cardenas. Yamal also narrowly failed to score. Then, in the 19th minute, Raphinha broke through Rayo’s defense, entered the box and slotted the ball into the bottom corner to equalize.
Just two minutes later, Yamal scored his first goal, driving into the box and firing a brilliant shot into the top corner to put Barcelona ahead.
English winger Anthony Gordon was also quite active for Barcelona. His shot was saved by Cardenas. Marc Bernal’s shot also went over the crossbar, pushed away by Rayo’s goalkeeper.
On Gordon, Flick said: “Gordon certainly had a lot of pace and was very clean on the ball. He also played an important role in two of the passes before the goals. Having him in our squad, alongside Karim, Rafa and Lamine, has added pace in those areas. That’s a good thing. I’m happy with them.”
Six minutes into the second half, Barcelona’s third goal came somewhat fortunately, when Rayo’s Lejeune turned the ball into his own net. Barcelona’s Jules Koundé then had a goal ruled out for offside.
But Rayo didn’t give up. Just before the hour mark, Camello scored his second goal, glancing a shot in off a corner from Unai Lopez, making it 3-2.
Gordon continued to trouble Rayo’s defense afterward. After several missed chances — including a Fermin Lopez shot saved inside the box — Raphinha scored his fourth from a superb backheel pass by Gordon.
On Raphinha’s play in the number nine role, Flick said: “Of course, that’s exactly what I expect from him. He’s an outstanding player, a world-class player. Getting the captaincy has also been positive for him. Right now, he’s showing exactly what we need from him.”
Rayo kept fighting until the end but couldn’t find a way back. In the match’s final minute, Yamal scored his second goal, finishing off a pass from Karim Adeyemi. Barcelona left the pitch with a 5-2 win, keeping their perfect record for the season intact and reclaiming top spot in La Liga.