Barcelona maintained their perfect start to the LaLiga season on Monday night, beating Rayo Vallecano 5-2 at home to record three wins from three matches.
The Catalan giants, who had to recover from an early setback, sealed the victory through Raphinha and Lamine Yamal, who scored twice each, while an own goal from Florian Lejeune completed the rout.
Rayo stunned Barcelona in the 12th minute when Sergio Camello finished from Álvaro García’s cut-back to give the visitors a surprise lead.
Barcelona responded quickly.
Raphinha restored parity after a flowing attacking move before Yamal produced a brilliant individual effort to put the hosts 2-1 ahead.
The teenager beat his marker before curling the ball into the top corner.
Barcelona thought they had added a third before the break through Jules Koundé, but the effort was ruled out for offside.
The hosts eventually extended their advantage after the restart when Lejeune turned an Anthony Gordon cross into his own net.
Rayo refused to collapse and pulled one back through Camello, who headed home from a corner to make it 3-2.
Barcelona, however, regained control.
Raphinha struck again after Gordon’s clever backheel created the opening, firing a powerful finish past the Rayo defence.
Yamal then completed the scoring late in the game, calmly placing the ball into the net from the edge of the box.
The victory took Barcelona to nine points from three matches and kept them top of LaLiga.
Real Madrid also have a maximum nine points but remain behind Barcelona on goal difference.
Rayo, meanwhile, have managed only one point from three matches and are provisionally 18th in the table.
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