Raphinha on course for record goalscoring start
A flawless start to the league season. Raphinha has scored in each of the first four LaLiga games and is only the sixth player in Barça history to achieve the feat. The Barça captain has scored six goals in the opening four league games: braces against Elche and Rayo Vallecano, as well as single goals against Athletic Club and Valencia.
Before Raphinha, only five players in FC Barcelona history had scored in each of the first four LaLiga games. The first was Kubala in the 1953/54 season, followed by Cayetano Ré in 1964/65, while the most recent was Cesc Fàbregas in 2011/12.
Two players, however, extended the run by scoring in each of the first five LaLiga games. César did so in 1950/51, scoring eight goals in the opening five matches, while Zlatan Ibrahimović repeated the feat in 2009/10.
Leo Messi also scored in Barça's first four games of the season on two occasions, in 2011/12 and 2012/13, although not all of those matches were in LaLiga. In both seasons, his goals included those against Real Madrid in the Spanish Super Cup.
Feyenoord the next challenge
Raphinha's attention now turns to the Champions League. Barça begin their European campaign this Wednesday at 6.45pm CEST at Spotify Camp Nou, with Feyenoord the opposition. If Raphinha scores again, he will extend his run to five consecutive games with a goal.
No Barça player has ever scored in each of the first five games of a season across different competitions. The Brazilian would therefore become the first to achieve the feat.
In LaLiga, the next challenge is Sunday's trip to Levante at 4.15pm CEST. After their Champions League opener, Hansi Flick's side will be looking to make it five wins from five in the league and remain top of the table.