Five goals in three La Liga games for Raphinha is the standout number from Barcelona's opening week, and Monday night's 5-2 win over Rayo Vallecano added even more weight to it. Lamine Yamal scored twice as well, leaving Barcelona with three wins from three and an attack that has clicked quickly across a demanding eight-day start.

BBC Sport's live report summed up the night neatly: "Raphinha and Lamine Yamal both scored twice as Barcelona beat Rayo Vallecano to make it three wins out of three in La Liga."

That result in Barcelona vs Rayo Vallecano is why the early attention is landing on Barcelona's front line rather than just the table. Three matches is too early for sweeping verdicts, but five goals from Raphinha in that span is a real marker, especially at a club where hot starts are usually measured against elite company.

Raphinha's opening burst

The headline stat is the one BBC Sport attached to him after the game: "Brazil's Raphinha is the first player to score five goals in the first three La Liga games of a season since Lionel Messi for Barcelona in 2017."

That is strong company, and it fits the eye test from these first three matches. Raphinha has not just scored regularly, he has been Barcelona's main attacking reference point in the opening days of the season. His La Liga rating sits at 9.0 when rounded to one decimal, which backs up the idea that this is about overall influence as much as finishing.

There is also a workload angle here. Barcelona's first three league games have come in eight days, so this return has arrived in a compressed stretch rather than across a leisurely opening month. When a forward is scoring at that rate while the schedule is already tight, it changes the feel of a team's start very quickly.

Rayo still had their moments, and Sergio Camello got on the scoresheet, but Barcelona's attackers kept dragging the game back toward them. That has been the pattern of this opening run: the opposition can make it awkward for periods, yet Barcelona have had players with enough quality in the final third to settle it.

Yamal's support is just as important

Raphinha is the obvious lead, but Yamal's contribution is a big part of why this start looks convincing rather than one player carrying the line. He scored twice against Rayo and now has two league goals in three appearances, giving Barcelona a second major source of output straight away.

His second on the night was the memorable one. Yamal's 51st goal for Barcelona arrived in injury time from 20 yards, which is a striking detail on its own and another reminder of how naturally he keeps adding end product to his game.

His broader level has been high as well. Yamal's La Liga rating stands at 8.07, so even without overreacting to three matches, Barcelona already have two attackers producing at a level most sides in the league would struggle to match.

That is what makes this opening stand out. Barcelona are perfect after three matches, but the bigger point is how the goals are being shared at the top end of the pitch. Raphinha has five, Yamal has two, and the team has handled a packed first eight days without their attack looking rushed or disconnected.

What this start means after three games

The sensible read is not that Barcelona have solved the whole season by the end of August. It is that their attack has come together very quickly, and Raphinha's burst has set the tone.

When one player is posting the club's best three-game scoring start since Messi in 2017, that deserves attention on its own. When Yamal adds a double in the same match and Barcelona make it three wins from three, it becomes the clearest reason they have opened the campaign with nine points.

Barcelona's latest result is a 5-2 win over Rayo Vallecano on 31 August, and it leaves Raphinha on five league goals after only three matches.

FAQ

Why is Raphinha's start for Barcelona getting so much attention?

Because Raphinha has scored five goals in Barcelona's first three La Liga games. BBC Sport reported that he is the first player to reach that mark in the opening three matches of a season since Lionel Messi did it for Barcelona in 2017.

How important was Lamine Yamal in Barcelona's win over Rayo Vallecano?

Lamine Yamal was central to the win. He scored twice against Rayo Vallecano, including his 51st Barcelona goal in injury time from 20 yards. He now has two La Liga goals in three appearances, giving Barcelona another reliable source of end product alongside Raphinha.

Are Barcelona already looking strong in La Liga this season?

It is a very good opening run, even if it is still only three matches. Barcelona have won all three of their La Liga games, and they have done it across a demanding eight-day stretch. The attack is clicking quickly, with Raphinha on five goals and Lamine Yamal adding two.

What happened in Barcelona vs Rayo Vallecano on 31 August 2026?

Barcelona beat Rayo Vallecano 5-2 on 31 August 2026. Raphinha and Lamine Yamal both scored twice, and Sergio Camello also scored in a game that kept Barcelona perfect after three La Liga matches.

Written by Daniel Hartley with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 1 outlet. How we work →