Barcelona sit top of LaLiga with 21 points from seven games, and their 3-1 victory at Sevilla on September 19 underlined why they are the division's most formidable side this season. Raphinha was the story of the night, scoring a hat-trick that took his tally to 14 goals in all competitions and prompted even Sevilla boss Luis Garcia to call his Ballon d'Or snub a joke, as reported by Goal. The win was not straightforward, and Hansi Flick admitted his side were well below their best for long stretches, telling reporters that grinding out results in difficult conditions matters as much as the high-scoring displays that have defined their campaign, per Goal's post-match coverage.

Off the pitch, the club delivered significant news on its long-term foundations. Sporting director Deco confirmed new contracts for Raphinha, Marc Bernal, and Xavi Espart, as Goal reported, securing three players central to Flick's plans. Goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic also made his debut in the Sevilla win after Joan Garcia picked up a knee injury, and the Croatian spoke positively about his settling-in process, according to Goal.

Atletico Madrid sit second on 16 points, five behind Barcelona, after beating Real Madrid 2-1 in the derby. With a home fixture against Getafe scheduled for October 10, Barcelona have a chance to extend their advantage before the title race intensifies.