SATV, Kathmandu, Mar. 17 - Raphinha scored a hat trick, including two goals from the penalty spot, as Barcelona reclaimed its four-point lead over Real Madrid at the top of the Spanish league on Sunday.
Barcelona routed Sevilla 5-2 for its fourth straight league win and boosted its confidence ahead of the second leg of its Champions League last 16 match against Newcastle on Wednesday.
Barcelona needed Lamine Yamal's penalty with the last kick of the game to rescue a 1-1 draw at Newcastle in the first leg.
After Portugal defender João Cancelo was fouled in the box, Raphinha put the Catalan side ahead in the ninth minute with a little dink of a shot known as a "Panenka," which fooled goalkeeper Odysseas Vlachodimos.
Cancelo, who returned to Barcelona this winter on loan from Saudi Arabia club Al-Hilal, earned another penalty in the 18th and Raphinha again converted. Vlachodimos read the shot well and managed to touch the ball but could not stop it.
Dani Olmo made it 3-0 in the 38th minute from Marc Bernal's cross.
Oso pulled one back for Sevilla before halftime and Raphinha completed his hat trick after the interval with a shot that took a deflection and went over the 'keeper. Cancelo then added more luster to the win, with Djibril Sow reducing the gap in added time.
Barcelona midfielder Gavi returned to action after more than 200 days on the sidelines because of a right knee meniscus operation.
Gavi came on in the 82nd minute as a replacement for Raphinha to huge cheers. He was then applauded every time he touched the ball.
Elsewhere, Mallorca came from behind to beat Espanyol 2-1, and Real Betis and Celta Vigo drew 1-1.
Man United beat Villa
Bruno Fernandes closed in on the Premier League 's assists record as Manchester United tightened its grip on a return to the Champions League with a 3-1 win against Aston Villa on Sunday.
Tottenham avoided extending an unwanted club low by halting its losing run with a late equalizer to draw 1-1 with Liverpool.
Fernandes provided assists for two of United's goals against Villa to take his tally for the season to 16.
The record for a single Premier League campaign is 20 — jointly held by Thierry Henry and Kevin De Bruyne.
Fernandes, who now has 100 assists as a United player, has up to eight more games to set a new record in English soccer's top division.
Of more importance to United was a seventh win in nine games under head coach Michael Carrick. United is third -- three points clear of Villa in fourth.
United is on course for a return to the Champions League after two seasons outside of European club soccer's top competition.
The top four are guaranteed to qualify, with English teams likely to earn a fifth spot because of their performances in Europe this season.
The victory saw United close the gap on second-place Manchester City to seven points.
Liverpool is two points further back in fifth after squandering victory against Spurs when Richarlison struck in the 90th minute to stun the Anfield crowd. Tottenham had looked set to extend its all-time worst losing run to seven games in all competitions when trailing Dominik Szoboszlai's first-half free kick.
The draw left Tottenham one point clear of the relegation zone. Liverpool is fifth - one point ahead of Chelsea.
Nottingham Forest climbed out of the bottom three on goal difference with a 0-0 draw against Fulham. Crystal Palace and Leeds also drew 0-0.
Milan give Inter Scudetto reprieve
AC Milan missed the chance to pile pressure on local rivals Inter in the Serie A title fight after falling to a 1-0 defeat at Lazio on Sunday, as Como beat 10-man Roma 2-1 to increase their hopes of a shock Champions League qualification.
Faced with the chance of cutting Inter's league lead to five points, Milan fluffed their lines and fell to a second defeat in four matches.
Gustav Isaksen's calm finish midway through the second half allowed Inter to increase the gap separating them from Milan to eight points even though they only managed to draw 1-1 with Atalanta on Saturday.
Trailing at the break to Donyell Malen's early penalty, Como showed why they have shaken things up in Italy's top flight by coming back to beat a key rival for the final spot in Europe's elite club competition.
Cesc Fabregas's tiny but wealthy team are fourth, a point above Juve thanks to Tasos Douvikas' low drive in the 59th minute and Diego Carlos -- who gave away Roma's penalty -- poking home the winner in front of delighted home fans 20 minutes later.
Como have never played European football in their turbulent history, which until they were taken over by tobacco giants Djarum in 2019 featured more bankruptcies than on-field success.
Roma, in sixth, haven't qualified for the Champions League since 2018 and trail Como by three points with nine matches left remaining in the season. (AP)
