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LaLiga Wrap: Samba Boys maintain Real Madrid's perfect start

LaLiga Wrap: Samba Boys maintain Real Madrid's perfect start

Sevilla 0-3 Barcelona

FC Barcelona climbed to second spot on the LaLiga table after thrashing Sevilla 3-0 at the Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan Stadium on Saturday night.

Barca were unchanged from their thumping win over Real Valladolid, as Ousmane Dembele and Raphinha were on either side of Robert Lewandowski in a front three while Sevilla gave new signing, formerly with Real Madrid, Isco his first start.

Julen Lopetegui's charges were quick off the blocks but they conceded from a counter-attack on 21 minutes after Raphinha headed home a rebound from a clearance invited by a chip from Lewandowski.

In a very physical game, Lewandowski eventually doubled the lead for the visitors nine minutes before the half-time break with a spectacular volley after he chest-trapped a lobbed pass by Jules Kounde.

Xavi's charges got more dangerous going forward, as Kounde and Dembele spurned two good opportunities to put the game to bed at the tail end of the first stanza.

However, Eric Garcia eventually put the game out of sight early in the second stanza for Blaugrana with a tap-in after a headed pass across goal by Kounde at the back post.

Barca gained more control as Lewandowski nearly made it 4-0 just after the hour-mark after he connected perfectly with a cross by Sergi Roberto but was denied by goalkeeper Bono.

Sevilla became more vulnerable as Lewandowski came close again to making it a rout 18 minutes before time with a chip through on goal that was tipped away from goal by Bono and Frenkie de Jong pounced on the rebound but Jose Carmona cleared his effort off the line.

However, Barcelona sat deep in the closing stages, as Lopetegui's men attacked in numbers but the home side lacked the decisive pass as the Catalan giants held on to move up to second on the log, two points behind leaders Real Madrid.

Real Madrid 2-1 Real Betis

Real Madrid made it four wins from four matches in LaLiga after defeating high-flying Real Betis at the Santiago Bernabeu on Saturday afternoon.

Ferland Mendy and Dani Carvajal were restored the Los Blancos defence, with Antonio Rudiger and Lucas Vazquez dropped to the bench while the rest of the team remained the same from last week's win over Espanyol.

The home side took the lead in the ninth minute when as Alaba's superb ball over the top found Vinicius Junior, who skipped past one challenge before lobbing goalkeeper Rui Silva.

Betis weren't behind for too long as former Real midfielder Sergio Canales restored parity in the 17th minute with a neat finish from Borja Iglesias' cross.

Carlo Ancelotti's men looked for an immediate response as Aurélien Tchouaméni was presented with a great chance midway through the half, but his header was superbly kept out by Silva.

Both sides came out firing in the second half, as Courtois was called upon to keep out Alex Moreno's strike while Luka Modric went close with a powerful strike on 54 minutes.

The European champions would get the go-ahead goal 10 minutes later when Rodrygo turned home Federic Valverde's cut-back for his first goal of the campaign.

Betis responded with a triple change as Willan Jose, Aitor Ruibal and Joaquin entered the fray for the final 20 minutes, while Toni Kroos and Dani Ceballos replaced Modric and Rodrygo.

However, Los Blancos were able to see out the closing stages and held out for their fourth successive win, while ending Betis' perfect start to the season in the process.

Here are the 10 highest-paid African players in LaLiga this season: 

7. Aissa Mandi (Algeria & Villarreal) - €92 115 pe
7. Aissa Mandi (Algeria & Villarreal) - €92 115 per week
10. Joseph Aidoo (Ghana & Celta Vigo) - €37 500 pe
10. Joseph Aidoo (Ghana & Celta Vigo) - €37 500 per week
8. Boulaye Dia (Senegal & Villarreal) - €56 154 pe
8. Boulaye Dia (Senegal & Villarreal) - €56 154 per week
6. Munir El Haddadi (Morocco & Sevilla) - €95 769
6. Munir El Haddadi (Morocco & Sevilla) - €95 769 per week
4. Youssef En-Nesyri (Morocco & Sevilla) - €123 46
4. Youssef En-Nesyri (Morocco & Sevilla) - €123 462 per week
9. Djene (Togo & Getafe) - €42 308 per week
9. Djene (Togo & Getafe) - €42 308 per week
5. Inaki Williams (Ghana & Athletic Bilbao) - €114
5. Inaki Williams (Ghana & Athletic Bilbao) - €114 808 per week
1. Franck Kessie (Ivory Coast & Barcelona) - €260
1. Franck Kessie (Ivory Coast & Barcelona) - €260 385 per week
3.	Geoffrey Kondogbia (Central African Republic &
3. Geoffrey Kondogbia (Central African Republic & Atletico Madrid) - €132 692 per week
2. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Gabon & Barcelona) -
2. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Gabon & Barcelona) - €220 385 per week

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