Raphinha nets hat-trick as Barca thrash Bayern 4-1

Barcelona captain Raphinha scored a hat-trick to lead them to a commanding 4-1 home victory over Bayern Munich in the Champions League yesterday, ending a near decade-long winless run against the German powerhouses.Raphinha’s inspired night started when he gave Barca the lead a little over a minute after kick-off as he received a fine pass through by midfielder Fermin Lopez, beat the offside trap before rounding the onrushing Manuel Neuer and tapping into the empty net.Harry Kane levelled the score with a volley in the 18th minute but Robert Lewandowski put the home side back in front in the 36th minute after a mistake by Bayern’s defence and Raphinha extended Barca’s lead with two goals from quick counter-attacks either side of halftime. Barca are ninth in the Champions League standings on six points from three games while Bayern are 23rd on three points after a second consecutive defeat.Haaland braceErling Haaland’s spectacular acrobatic effort lit up Manchester City’s 5-0 win over Sparta Prague to move into third place in the Champions League table.The Norwegian scored twice, including a backheel at shoulder height, as City ran riot against the Czech champions. Phil Foden, John Stones and Matheus Nunes were also on target for Pep Guardiola’s men, who remain unbeaten in all competitions this season.Sparta had taken four points from their opening two Champions League games against Salzburg and Stuttgart, but City were a step up in class too far for the visitors.Foden’s struggle for form and fitness has compounded City’s injury problems with Rodri and Kevin De Bruyne sidelined.But there were encouraging signs for Guardiola as, restored to the starting line-up, the England international drilled home the opening goal after just three minutes.Haaland had nine efforts on goal in total but was frustrated in the first half as Sparta refused to let the floodgates open before the break. Peter Vindahl produced a stunning save low to his right to parry a powerful downward header from Haaland on 10 minutes.Vindahl also denied Foden, while Haaland had another towering header hacked off the line.For all the home side’s dominance, Sparta would have levelled midway through the first half but for a brilliant save from Ederson to turn behind Veljko Birmancevic’s strike on the counter-attack from a City corner.Haaland did finally deliver City’s second with an effort reminiscent of his strike against old club Borussia Dortmund two years ago that won Champions League goal of the season.Savinho’s chipped cross was slightly behind the 24-year-old, who contorted his body to strike the ball martial arts style and fire it past Vindahl. Stones nodded in a vital stoppage time winner against Wolves in the Premier League on Sunday and continued his hot streak in front of goal with a looping header from Nunes’ cross.Haaland then completed a three-goal blitz in 11 minutes at the end of a scintillating City counter-attack.Slick passes from Rico Lewis, Foden and Nunes teed up Haaland to slot home his 44th Champions League goal in just 42 appearances in the competition.Guardiola could afford the luxury of replacing his star number nine, along with Ilkay Gundogan and Bernardo Silva in the closing stages with City in the midst of a run of seven games in 21 days.Nunes completed the rout from the penalty spot after he had been felled inside the area.Victory takes City onto seven points from their opening three Champions League games, behind only Premier League rivals Liverpool and Aston Villa.Nunez earns Liverpoolnarrow win at LeipzigLiverpool’s Darwin Nunez took full advantage of a rare start with the winner in his side’s 1-0 victory at RB Leipzig as their 100% start in the Champions League continued yesterday.With Diogo Jota ruled out because of injury, Uruguayan Nunez got his chance and delivered in the 27th minute by poking home Mohamed Salah’s header. It proved enough to secure Liverpool’s sixth away win out of six in all competitions this season and maintain an excellent start to new manager Arne Slot’s reign.Liverpool are second in the 36-team league phase with nine points, behind only Aston Villa on goal difference. Leipzig twice had goals disallowed and wasted several other promising moments as their wait for a first point goes on.RESULTS:Atalanta 0 Celtic 0Brest 1 Bayer Leverkusen 1Atletico Madrid 1 Lille 3Barcelona 4 Bayern Munich 1Benfica 1 Feyenoord 3Manchester City 5 Sparta Prague 0RB Leipzig 0 Liverpool 1RB Salzburg 0 Dinamo Zagreb 2Young Boys 0 Inter Milan 1