**_BARCELONA_**: Spanish champions Barcelona swept aside Sevilla 5-2 with a hat-trick from Raphinha to remain four points clear at the top of LaLiga.
Hansi Flick’s side lead the standings with 70 points, ahead of Real Madrid on 66, while Atletico Madrid trail on 57.
With Wednesday’s Champions League last-16 clash against Newcastle in mind, Flick rested regular starters including Lamine Yamal and Fermin Lopez, but his reshuffled side scarcely missed a beat.
Barca were in front after nine minutes when Djibril Sow bundled over Joao Cancelo in the box. Raphinha cheekily chipped his spot kick straight down the middle as keeper Odysseas Vlachodimos dived left.
VAR intervened in the 21st minute, spotting a handball by Jose Angel Carmona as he slid in to halt Cancelo. Raphinha drilled his second penalty low to the left, Vlachodimos getting a hand to it but unable to keep it out.
Dani Olmo added a third in the 38th minute, finishing first time after Marc Bernal surged down the left wing and squared into his path.
Sevilla briefly stirred before halftime, as 22-year-old academy winger Oso volleyed home Juanlu Sanchez’s cross in added time.
Any hopes of a comeback faded six minutes after the restart when Raphinha completed his treble, his low strike deflecting off Nemanja Gudelj and looping over the wrong-footed Vlachodimos.
Cancelo made it five on the hour, cutting inside from the left and gliding past Gudelj before slotting into the far corner.
With the win all but guaranteed, Flick introduced midfielder Gavi off the bench in the 83rd minute, with the 21-year-old Spain international playing his first minutes after undergoing surgery to repair a meniscus injury he suffered in August.
There was still time for Sevilla to score a second, however, with Oso turning provider in added time, crossing for Sow to head in from close range.
**In Italy . . .**
AC Milan lost 1-0 away to Lazio after Gustav Isaksen struck in the first half, leaving the visitors eight points adrift of Serie A leaders Inter Milan.
Milan had the chance to close the gap on their city rivals after Inter were held to a 1-1 home draw by Atalanta on Saturday but failed to capitalise in a match that saw them struggle to assert control.
Lazio made the breakthrough in the 26th minute when Isaksen broke free from his marker to chase a long ball down the wing before firing home from a tight angle.
Milan pushed forward in the second half and created several chances but could not find an equaliser.
The defeat left Milan on 60 points, with Inter on 68 with nine matches remaining. Lazio are ninth with 40 points.
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