Barcelona 7-2 Racing Santander: Raphinha hat-trick, the best start in club history and a Joan Garcia worry
Nine goals, three penalties for Barcelona, a Raphinha hat-trick. Barça have 18 points from 18 and 28 goals in six games, the most since 1940-41, but Joan Garcia picked up a problem late in the first half and was replaced at the break. Every goal, the records, our call and Saturday's trip to Sevilla.
Barcelona beat Racing Santander 7-2 on matchday six of LaLiga, with a Raphinha hat-trick that included two penalties. It was already 4-1 at half-time. In Spain, the United States and France it was the most searched match of the day, and the numbers explain why.
The nine goals
8' Cancelo, 1-0
25' Raphinha, penalty, 2-0
30' Gueye, 2-1
36' Cancelo shot deflected in by Villalibre, 3-1
42' Raphinha, 4-1
65' Zabiri, 4-2
67' Raphinha, penalty, 5-2
79' Gabriel Jesus, 6-2
89' Yamal, 7-2
It could have been worse for Racing, who gave away three penalties: Yamal had his saved by Agirrezabala, hit the post and had a goal ruled out for offside.
The records
Best start in Barcelona's history: seven wins from the first seven competitive games, six in the league and one in the Champions League. The previous best was six, in 1929-30, 1960-61 and 2018-19.
28 goals in six league games: no side had scored that many since Sevilla in 1940-41, who reached 32.
Raphinha has 9 goals in six league games, matching Messi in 2017-18. He has 11 this season.
Barcelona have 18 points out of 18 and are the only unbeaten side in the division.
The Joan Garcia worry
The sour note came at the end of the first half. Joan Garcia slipped on the wet surface while going to fetch a ball that had gone out, stayed in the dressing room and was replaced by Szczesny as a precaution. As of this morning the club had issued no medical update, and Flick said he hopes to have him for the weekend.
Szczesny, on at half-time, lost the ball in his own box on 65 minutes and Zabiri scored into an empty net.
Our call
On Barcelona against Racing Santander our call was over 2.5 goals, confidence 8 out of 10: correct: nine goals.
Next up, Sevilla
On Saturday at 21:00 Spanish time Barcelona go to Sevilla. Sevilla have 13 points, level with Atlético, and come in on two straight 1-0 wins, the latest at Deportivo La Coruña through Miguel Sierra. Last season Sevilla won 4-1 at home with Szczesny in goal, because Joan Garcia had had meniscus surgery; Barcelona won the return game 5-2, with another Raphinha hat-trick.
On Sevilla against Barcelona our call is the home side not to win, confidence 8 out of 10.
Every LaLiga game with our calls is on the LaLiga page. The record of settled calls is in the results history.
