BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Rafinha scored a hat trick, including two goals from the penalty spot, as Barcelona regained a four-point lead over Real Madrid at the top. spanish league on sunday.
Barcelona beat Sevilla 5-2 for their fourth straight league win, boosting their confidence heading into the second leg champions league Wednesday’s last 16 match against Newcastle. Barcelona needed Lamine Yamal’s penalty with the last kick of the match to salvage a 1-1 draw with Newcastle in the first leg.
Madrid beat Elche 4-1 Saturday’s match temporarily cut Barcelona’s lead to one point.
After Portugal defender Joao Cancelo was fouled in the box, Rafinha put the Catalans ahead in the ninth minute with a narrow shot known as a “panenka” that deceived goalkeeper Odyseas Vlahodimos.
Cancelo, who returned to Barcelona on loan from Al Hilal in Saudi Arabia this winter, won another penalty in the 18th minute, and Rafinha converted again. Vlahodimos read the shot well and managed to touch the ball, but was unable to stop it.
In the 38th minute, Dani Olmo converted Marc Bernal’s cross to make it 3-0.
Oso put Sevilla one point ahead before half-time, and Raphinha completed his hat-trick after the interval by firing a deflected shot over the keeper. Cancelo then added further sparkle to the victory when Djibril Sow reduced the gap in stoppage time.
Elsewhere, Mallorca came from behind to beat Espanyol 2-1.
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