By Sulaimon Jamiu
Summer signings, Raphinha and Lewandowski, scored their first and fifth goal respectively for Barcelona, as the club comfortably beat troubled Sevilla 3-0 at the Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan Stadium on Saturday evening.
Barcelona’s embarrassment of attacking riches was too much for Sevilla who go into their Champions League game next week against Manchester City deep in crisis having taking just one point from their first four games.
The Blaugrana won the transfer window in Spain and many of the new signings played their part as they romped to victory.
Coach Xavi started with Raphinha, Ousmane Dembele and Lewandowski up front and they all player crucial roles in the opener in the 21st minute.
Gavi won the ball in midfield and Sergio Busquets helped it on to Dembele who ran at the heart of Sevilla’s creaky defence. He played in Lewandowski and when the Polish striker clipped the ball over Bono it was cleared by Fernand but Raphinha swept it in from close range, to give the visitors the lead.
Raphinha almost scored a spectacular second with a curling shot from distance, but Sevilla only made it to 36 minutes before they went two goals behind.
Lewandowski got on the end of a deep Jules Kounde cross from the right taking the assist on his chest before volleying home.
Eric Garcia got the third in the second half when Dembele took a short corner to Raphinha who floated the ball to the back post. Kounde headed it down and the former Manchester City defender converted.
Barcelona were able to bring on Frenkie de Jong and Ansu Fati in the second half and both went close. There was even a run out for Jordi Alba replacing the young left back who now seems ahead of him – Alejandro Balde.
The vital win means that Xavi’s side has now climbed into second place, leaving them with just two points behind rivals Real Madrid, at the top of the league.
