Barcelona's Dominance Continues Under Hansi Flick

Barcelona’s new era under Hansi Flick keeps gathering pace – and this time it rolled right through the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan.

Down early. Dominant by the end. A 3-1 comeback win over Sevilla that said as much about their mentality as it did about their talent.

Fofana strikes, Raphinha answers

Sevilla struck first. In the 19th minute, Youssouf Fofana punished Barcelona, giving the home side the start they wanted and igniting the stadium.

The response was ruthless.

Three minutes later, Raphinha dragged Barcelona level. Andreas Christensen split the lines with a precise pass, and the Brazilian did the rest, burying the chance and cutting the noise inside the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan almost instantly.

From there, the match tilted heavily in Barcelona’s favour. Flick’s side took control of the ball, dictated the tempo and pinned Sevilla back. The early scare became a test of authority rather than a sign of weakness.

Raphinha the No. 9, and the hat-trick hero

This is a different Barcelona in attack. No Robert Lewandowski, no Ferran Torres. No traditional reference point up front.

Raphinha has stepped into that void and turned it into his stage.

Deployed centrally as a number nine, he didn’t just adapt – he exploded. He added two more goals in the second half to complete his hat-trick, killing off Sevilla and taking his league tally to 12 goals in seven appearances.

Across all competitions, the numbers are even more staggering: 14 goals and three assists in just eight games this season. That includes back-to-back hat-tricks in the space of 72 hours, his previous treble coming in the 7-2 demolition of Racing.

This wasn’t just a hot streak. It looked like the birth of a new role.

Structure behind the sparkle

Barcelona’s attacking fluency stood out, but the backbone behind it mattered just as much.

Dominik Livakovic, making his debut in goal, delivered a calm, assured performance. He dealt with Sevilla’s efforts cleanly and helped settle a backline that had to absorb an early blow and then a key injury.

Christensen, who had provided the assist for the equaliser, was forced off in the second half with a thigh problem. Even so, the defence held.

Pau Cubarsi and Eric Garcia marshalled the backline with composure, shutting down Sevilla’s space and limiting them to half-chances after Fofana’s opener. What began as an open contest gradually turned into a controlled exercise in game management from the visitors.

Out wide, Lamine Yamal tormented Sevilla. The teenager repeatedly attacked Odysseas Vlachodimos’ side, stretching the defence and creating damage with end product, not just flair. He finished with two crucial assists for Raphinha, his influence growing as Sevilla tired and Barcelona’s dominance deepened.

By the closing stages, the home side were chasing shadows.

Top of the table, bigger tests coming

The win keeps Barcelona perfect in La Liga and firmly on top of the table with 21 points. The performance backed up the numbers: control, resilience, and a cutting edge through the middle that few expected to be this sharp so soon after a major attacking reshuffle.

Flick now faces a different kind of challenge. He must assess the extent of Christensen’s thigh issue and manage a squad that is already being pushed hard in the opening stretch of the season.

Getafe await on October 10 in domestic action, a fixture Barcelona will be expected to handle if they maintain this level. Three days later comes something else entirely: a crucial Champions League clash with Galatasaray.

If Raphinha keeps firing like this and the structure behind him holds, that match won’t just test Barcelona’s form. It will reveal how far this rebuilt side can really go.