Blitz Bureau
NEW DELHI: Raphinha scored a couple of goals as Barcelona maintained its four-point lead over Real Madrid at the top of La Liga after defeating Sevilla 5-2 on March 15. Barcelona coach Hansi Flick rested Lamine Yamal and Fermin Lopez ahead of next week’s Champions League tie at home to Newcastle United, but his side quickly took control thanks to two penalties from Raphinha.
The first came after Joao Cancelo had his shirt pulled in the Sevilla penalty area after seven minutes, while the second followed a handball after another Cancelo run into the box. Dani Olmo made it 3-0 in the 38th minute after an assist from Marc Bernal, before Oso pulled a goal back for the visitors in injury time.
Raphinha completed his hat-trick with a shot that took a big deflection early in the second half, and Cancelo got the goal his display deserved after cutting inside his marker and scoring with an accurate shot with half an hour still to play.
Djibril Sow scored Sevilla’s second with a header in virtually the last action of the game.
Betis and Celta Vigo, Spain’s two representatives in this season’s Europa League, drew 1-1 in Seville. Ferran Jutgla opened the scoring for Celta in the fourth minute with a long-range shot that Betis goalkeeper Alvaro Valles should have kept out. Betis full-back Hector Bellerin equalized three minutes into the second half with a finish from a narrow angle after a good pass from Aitor Ruibal. Real Sociedad won its local derby 3-1 at home to Osasuna, with Mikel Oyarzabal opening the scoring from the penalty spot after 24 minutes, before Benat Turrientes and Goncalo Guedes combined twice for Guedes to make it 3-0.
