La Liga Daily Report - 2026-09-21: Barcelona maintain perfect La Liga start with Sevilla victory

Barcelona beat Sevilla 3-1 on Saturday to make it seven La Liga wins from seven matches. Youssef Fofana put Sevilla ahead in the 19th minute, but Raphinha responded with goals in the 22nd, 52nd and 69th minutes to complete another hat-trick. The result left Barcelona top with 21 points, 31 goals scored and seven conceded. Their attacking numbers have made them the most prolific side in Europe’s major leagues, while Raphinha has contributed 12 goals in seven league appearances after being used in a central attacking role.

The victory extended Barcelona’s lead over Real Madrid to six points, with Atlético Madrid and Real Betis five points behind, according to TodoAlicante. Hansi Flick’s side now face an international break lasting almost three weeks, interrupting their strongest spell of the campaign. Raphinha’s form has become central to the early title picture, particularly after Barcelona failed to sign Julián Álvarez and saw Robert Lewandowski and Ferran Torres leave. The Brazilian’s successive hat-tricks have instead given the leaders a potent solution at the head of their attack.

Atlético Madrid beat Real Madrid 2-1 on Sunday to win the first capital derby of the La Liga season. Real were reduced to 10 men when Dean Huijsen was sent off in the 52nd minute for the foul that led to Atlético’s penalty, which Alejandro Grimaldo converted. Jonathan David doubled the hosts’ advantage seven minutes later, before Antonio Rüdiger pulled one back with an 89th-minute goal. The victory moved Atlético into second place behind Barcelona, while Real Madrid fell to fourth with 15 points, according to The Nation.

The result was shaped by the dismissal and the officiating debate that followed. Real coach José Mourinho criticised the refereeing after the match, while Madrid also wanted Atlético defender Cristian Romero sent off for an incident involving Jude Bellingham; VAR reviewed the challenge but no red card followed. David’s winning goal continued an impressive start after his move to Atlético, while Ademola Lookman came off the bench for the final stages. Atlético’s third consecutive league win strengthened their position near the leaders and increased the pressure on Real during the international break.

Federico Valverde was reportedly expected to miss two to three weeks after being injured in Real Madrid’s derby defeat by Atlético Madrid on Sunday. According to Soccer King, cited by Chosun Ilbo, the Uruguay midfielder damaged his ankle when Atlético’s Lee Kang-in caught him with a tackle from behind in the 45th minute. The referee awarded a foul but did not issue a card. Real Madrid lost 2-1 at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano after Dean Huijsen’s dismissal, Alejandro Grimaldo’s penalty and Jonathan David’s second-half goal.

The reported absence could affect both Real Madrid and Uruguay during the international window. Chosun Ilbo said the injury threatened Valverde’s participation in Japan’s scheduled international match against Uruguay, making his recovery a matter of concern beyond the club campaign. José Mourinho also highlighted the challenge after the derby by presenting an image of the tackle at his post-match press conference and arguing that Lee should have been sent off. The episode added another layer to a match already dominated by disciplinary and refereeing controversy.

LaLiga confirmed that Barcelona will host Real Madrid in El Clásico on Sunday, October 25, with kick-off set for 9pm local time. The announcement came on September 21, during the international break that followed the latest round of league fixtures. The match will be one of the principal fixtures of October, placing the two biggest clubs in Spain together after the opening stretch of the campaign has already created an early gap at the top.

The timing gives both sides a defined target when domestic football resumes. Barcelona entered the break with seven league wins from seven and a six-point advantage over Real Madrid, while Madrid suffered a 2-1 defeat at Atlético in the capital derby on Sunday. The meeting at Barcelona’s stadium will therefore carry significance for the developing title race, although the standings can change before the scheduled date. LaLiga’s confirmation allows supporters and broadcasters to plan around one of the season’s most prominent fixtures.

A Sevilla fan is due to stand trial on Tuesday over alleged racist abuse directed at Real Madrid forward Vinícius Júnior during a 2023 match. The prosecution has requested a sentence of one year and nine months for an offence described as violating moral integrity, according to Yardbarker’s report citing Mundo Deportivo. The alleged incident took place between the 83rd and 86th minutes at the Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán, where the accused was seated close to the pitch in the northern stand.

The case is another significant legal test in Spanish football’s response to racist abuse. Prosecutors allege that the supporter repeatedly approached Vinícius and insulted him with explicit reference to the colour of his skin. The trial had originally been scheduled for April before being postponed, and its reopening keeps the treatment of players in Spanish stadiums in focus. Real Madrid and Vinícius have been central to recent efforts to pursue discriminatory behaviour through disciplinary and criminal proceedings.