Raphinha's hat-trick headlines Barcelona's 7-2 rout of Racing Santander

Barcelona made it six wins from six in LaLiga with a 7-2 thrashing of Racing Santander at a rain-soaked Camp Nou, Raphinha's hat-trick doing the heaviest lifting in a scoreline that was never really in doubt after half-time. João Cancelo opened the scoring in the 8th minute, and by the break Barcelona were 4-1 up and coasting.

Raphinha converted a penalty in the 25th minute for 2-0, Racing pulled one back through Maguette Gueye five minutes later, and Asier Villalibre turned the ball into his own net in the 36th minute before Raphinha added a fourth on the stroke of half-time. Racing's Yassir Zabiri, the same forward who had scored twice against Alavés a few days earlier, gave the visitors hope with a goal early in the second half, but Raphinha completed his hat-trick from the spot in the 67th minute and Gabriel Jesus and Lamine Yamal added two more late on to make it 7-2.

Score by half

A one-sided afternoon by the numbers

The gap between the sides showed everywhere except the scoreline itself, which at least gave Racing two goals to show for the trip. Barcelona had 29 shots to Racing's 5 and won 18 corners to Racing's none, and their expected-goals tally of 6.65 was the highest posted by any side in Europe's top five leagues so far this season. It was Racing's heaviest defeat since returning to the top flight, and their first visit to Camp Nou since the 2011-12 season.

For all the goals, Barcelona were wasteful in front of goal by their own recent standards: they created 12 clear-cut chances and converted only five of them, missing seven. It hardly mattered against a Racing side conceding at this rate, but it is the kind of detail Flick will want tightened up before December's tougher fixtures. Before this round Barcelona had scored 21 goals in five league matches while conceding just 4 — by some distance the best attack and meanest defence in the division — and this result only widened that gap.

Match stats

Line-ups

Barcelona lined up in a 4-3-3 with Joan García in goal, Cancelo, Gerard Martín, Eric García and Christensen across the back, Rodrigo, Dani Olmo and Pedri in midfield, and Raphinha, Adeyemi and Yamal ahead of them. Racing Santander set up in a 4-1-3-2 with Agirrezabala in goal, Manu Hernando, Pedro Felipe, Sainz-Maza and Aarón Martín at the back, Matteo Prati holding, Sergio Canales, Facu González and Arana in midfield, and Villalibre and Gueye up front.

"I liked the way we played and the three points. I'm happy, we're happy. It's not easy to play against Racing."

— Hansi Flick, Barcelona manager

Where it leaves the table

Barcelona went into the round top on 15 points from five straight wins, unbeaten in all competitions this season. This result takes them to 18 points and re-establishes a three-point cushion over Real Madrid, who had moved level on 15 by beating Elche the previous night. Racing Santander, who arrived on 7 points from five matches, stay there but take a heavy hit to their goal difference, a reminder of the gap between a promoted side and the champions even on a day they scored twice.