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Raphinha matches Messi milestone as Barcelona unleash five-goal spectacle at Mestalla
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- Raphinha matches Messi milestone as Barcelona unleash five-goal spectacle at Mestalla
Photo by Eric Alonso/Getty Images
Raphinha has written his name into Barcelona's history books. The Brazilian's strike in the 5-0 rout of Valencia took him to six goals in his first four La Liga matches, a start only Lionel Messi has matched this century.
Mundo Deportivo have confirmed Raphinha is just the second player since 2000 to score six in a team's opening four league games. Messi did it twice, in 2012-13 and 2013-14.
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Now the Brazilian is doing it himself.
Photo by JOSE JORDAN / AFP via Getty Images
Raphinha joins Messi on an exclusive list after Barca's comfortable win
The numbers behind the run are remarkable. Two goals against Elche, one at Athletic Bilbao, a brace against Rayo Vallecano and the strike at the Mestalla.
That takes him clear at the top of the La Liga scoring charts, one goal ahead of Rayo's Camello.
The next piece of history is within touching distance. Nobody except Cesar Rodriguez and Zlatan Ibrahimovic has ever scored in five straight matches for Barcelona in La Liga. Raphinha can make it five against Levante next.
The Mestalla spectacle itself was a statement. Hansi Flick handed Pedri his first start alongside Rodri, with Lamine Yamal in from the off, and the midfield understanding showed immediately.
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Fermin Lopez teed up Yamal for a moment of individual brilliance to open the scoring, then got on the scoresheet himself as Barcelona turned dominance into goals.
Photo by JOSE JORDAN / AFP via Getty Images
Raphinha's strike came after Rodri won the ball and launched the counter, with Fermin slipping him in inside the box. Pedri added the fourth after Dani Olmo created it, and Yamal completed the rout in style after another Olmo burst.
Eric Garcia's facial injury forced him off before the half-hour mark, with Jules Kounde replacing him. Gabriel Jesus made his Barcelona debut off the bench.
The 5-0 win moves Flick's side top of La Liga on their own, a warning shot ahead of the Champions League opener against Feyenoord on September 9.
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Raphinha is on fire, and right now nobody in Spain is stopping him.
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