A new leader has emerged in the early running for the top-scorer prize in Spain’s top-flight on Monday evening, in the form of Raphinha. This comes owing to developments in the clash between Barcelona and Rayo Vallecano.

Hansi Flick’s La Liga holders were back in action a short time ago, welcoming Rayo to Catalunya’s capital with sights on a third successive victory to open the defence of their title.

When all was said and done, this is precisely what Barcelona managed, courtesy of an eventual 5-2 result.

And captain fantastic Raphinha proved himself one of the stars of the show once more… In the midst of a stellar individual opening to the season in his new centre-forward berth, Brazilian international Raphinha was in from the off again on Monday.

And the former Leeds United man responded with a brilliant brace, first beating his man before slotting into the far corner early on, and then latching onto Anthony Gordon’s clever assist to again pick out the bottom corner on the other side of the interval.

His latest haul means that Raphinha has now found the net five times in his first three appearances of the La Liga term. Not only that, but he has leapfrogged Real Madrid standout Kylian Mbappé to take sole ownership of first place in the Pichichi race.