Barcelona Fight Back From Behind to Beat Rayo Vallecano 5-2 as Yamal, Raphinha Both Score Twice
Raphinha and Lamine Yamal both scored twice as Barcelona came from behind to thrash Rayo Vallecano 5-2 at the Spotify Camp Nou on Monday, preserving the reigning champions’ perfect start to the La Liga season and moving them above Real Madrid on goal difference.
Barcelona were made to work for the win after falling behind inside 12 minutes, when Alvaro Garcia surged down the left flank and squared the ball for Sergio Camello, who finished cleanly past goalkeeper Joan Garcia, the first goal Barcelona had conceded in the league all season. The hosts responded swiftly, though, with Raphinha equalising in the 19th minute after cutting inside from a pass by Xavi Espart and slotting low into the bottom corner. Barcelona completed the turnaround just two minutes later, as Lamine Yamal curled a powerful left-footed effort into the top corner from the edge of the box, a goal that also marked his 50th for Barcelona’s first team, making him the youngest player in the club’s history to reach that milestone at the age of 19.
Barcelona continued to dominate proceedings before the break, with Jules Kounde having what looked like a third goal ruled out for offside, before extending their lead shortly after the restart when a low cross from Anthony Gordon was inadvertently turned into his own net by Rayo defender Florian Lejeune. Camello pulled one back for the visitors in the 59th minute, rising to head home from a corner, but Barcelona restored their two-goal cushion soon after, with Gordon again involved, this time flicking the ball into the path of Raphinha, who fired home his fifth league goal of the season. Yamal completed the scoring deep into stoppage time, netting his second of the night with a cushioned finish from around 20 yards to make it 5-2.
The result meant Raphinha became the first player to score five goals in the opening three matches of a La Liga season since Lionel Messi achieved the same feat for Barcelona in 2017, continuing a blistering start to the campaign for the Brazilian forward as Barcelona crammed their opening fixtures into just eight days following a later-than-usual start to the season because of the number of World Cup players in their squad.
The win took Barcelona to nine points from three matches under head coach Hansi Flick, moving them above Real Madrid, who also have a perfect nine points, to the top of the table on goal difference. Rayo Vallecano, by contrast, remain without a league win through three matches, sitting 18th in the table with just one point, and had not scored in any of their previous four visits to Barcelona before Monday’s match.
With Yamal and Raphinha both in irresistible early-season form, Barcelona’s attacking firepower looks set to make them one of the sides to beat in what is already shaping up to be a closely fought title race with Real Madrid.
About the Author
