Raphinha hits hat trick as Barcelona routs Valladolid 7-0 to make it 4 from 4 under Flick

BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Brazil forward Raphinha scored a hat trick and set up another goal as Barcelona routed Valladolid 7-0 and remained perfect with four wins in as many games under new coach Hansi Flick on Saturday.

The early leader of the Spanish league rolled over newly promoted Valladolid at home, with Robert Lewandowski, Dani Olmo, Jules Koundé and Ferran Torres also finding the net.

Lamine Yamal, who starred in Spain’s European Championship title run, set up two goals and was way too much for Valladolid to handle from Lionel Messi’s old spot on the right flank.

Raphinha had already started the season strong with a pair of assists before he powered the big win over Valladolid with his first career treble. And that came after the club was reported to have been interested in securing a blockbuster transfer for Athletic Bilbao winger Nico Williams, another Spain standout.

If Williams had arrived, Raphinha would have likely been the odd man out.

“I have been working hard since I came back from the summer holidays. I knew that this season would be very important,” the former Leeds player said.

“The game today showed that we don’t need new players to come in. We are in good shape and working hard in practice and games. And this shows where we are right now."

It was 3-0 by halftime and the final score could have been even worse for the hapless visitor. Olmo, making his first start for Barcelona, hit the woodwork twice and Lewandowski also rattled the post.

When Barcelona fired Xavi Hernández and brought in Flick, president Joan Laporta said his team needed a change.

So far, so good.

The German coach has found a slick attacking unit of Lewandowski, Raphinha and Spain trio Yamal, Olmo, and Pedri, that could give its fans reason to hope Barcelona will challenge defending champion Real Madrid despite the addition of Kylian Mbappé.

Flick gave a fourth debut to the products of the club’s famed La Masia academy. This time it was the turn of 19-year-old defender Sergi Domínguez, who went on in the second half.

Raphinha used his chest to control a lobbed pass by 17-year-old defender Pau Cubarsí, who helped Spain win an Olympic gold, and opened the scoring in the 20th minute.

Lewandowski quickly doubled the lead from a cross by Yamal to give the Poland striker four goals in this campaign.

Koundé put the result beyond doubt in first-half injury time.

Raphinha scored from passes by Lewandowski and Yamal in the 64th and 72nd to make it a blowout. Olmo, who also stood out for Spain at Euro 2024, took this second goal in as many games since joining from Leipzig. Substitute Torres capped the demolition by side-footing in a low cross from Raphinha.

Barcelona has 12 points to Madrid’s five. The titleholder is in fifth place after drawing two of its first three matches. It hosts Real Betis on Sunday.

Substitutes Ángel Correa and Alexander Sorloth linked up in injury time to secure a 1-0 win for Atletico Madrid at Bilbao.

Correa took the late winner after Sorloth sprung a counterattack when he stole a ball from defender Iñigo Lekue and set up his strike partner on the gallop to round the goalkeeper and score.

Sorloth went on for Julián Álvarez with 20 minutes left. Correa joined him in the 88th.

After Bilbao's loss, Williams spoke about his future and the interest he received from other clubs following his superb showing at the Euros in Germany.

“Other players would have taken up the chances I had,” Williams said. “I showed that I am happy here. I have decided that I want to be here one more year and enjoy playing in (the Europa League with Bilbao).”

Espanyol got a goal deep in stoppage time from Alejo Veliz to complete a 2-1 comeback over Rayo Vallecano, its first win since returning to the top-flight after one season in the second division.

Mallorca's Dani Rodríguez scored to secure his team its first victory, beating Leganes 1-0 on the road.

Ayoze Pérez canceled out Hugo Duro’s opener to give Villarreal a 1-1 draw at regional rival Valencia.

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

Barcelona's Raphinha, front, is congratulated by Lamine Yamal after scoring his side's 5th goal during the Spanish La Liga soccer match between FC Barcelona and Valladolid at the Olympic stadium in Barcelona, Spain, Saturday, Aug. 31, 2024. (AP Photo/Joan Monfort)

Barcelona's Raphinha, top, jumps over Valladolid's goalkeeper Karl Hein scoring his side's 5th goal during the Spanish La Liga soccer match between FC Barcelona and Valladolid at the Olympic stadium in Barcelona, Spain, Saturday, Aug. 31, 2024. (AP Photo/Joan Monfort)

Barcelona's Dani Olmo, right, celebrates scoring his side's 6th goal during the Spanish La Liga soccer match between FC Barcelona and Valladolid at the Olympic stadium in Barcelona, Spain, Saturday, Aug. 31, 2024. (AP Photo/Joan Monfort)

Barcelona's Robert Lewandowski tries a bicycle kick during the Spanish La Liga soccer match between FC Barcelona and Valladolid at the Olympic stadium in Barcelona, Spain, Saturday, Aug. 31, 2024. (AP Photo/Joan Monfort)

Barcelona's Raphinha celebrates scoring his side's 4th goal during the Spanish La Liga soccer match between FC Barcelona and Valladolid at the Olympic stadium in Barcelona, Spain, Saturday, Aug. 31, 2024. (AP Photo/Joan Monfort)

Barcelona's Raphinha celebrates scoring his side's 5th goal during the Spanish La Liga soccer match between FC Barcelona and Valladolid at the Olympic stadium in Barcelona, Spain, Saturday, Aug. 31, 2024. (AP Photo/Joan Monfort)

TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — Iran launched a satellite into space Saturday with a rocket built by the country's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, state-run media reported, the latest for a program the West fears helps Tehran advance its ballistic missile program.

Iran described the launch as a success, which would be the second such launch to put a satellite into orbit with the rocket. There was no immediate independent confirmation of the launch’s success.

Footage later released by Iranian media showed the rocket blast off from a mobile launcher. An Associated Press analysis of the video and other imagery later released suggested the launch happened at the Guard’s launch pad on the outskirts of the city of Shahroud, some 350 kilometers (215 miles) east of the capital, Tehran.

The launch comes amid heightened tensions gripping the wider Middle East over the ongoing Israel-Hamas war in the Gaza Strip, during which Tehran launched an unprecedented direct missile-and-drone attack on Israel. Meanwhile, Iran continues to enrich uranium to nearly weapons-grade levels, raising concerns among nonproliferation experts about Tehran's program.

Iran identified the satellite-carrying rocket as the Qaem-100, which the Guard used in January for another successful launch. Qaem means “upright” in Iran's Farsi language.

The solid-fuel, three-stage rocket put the Chamran-1 satellite, weighing 60 kilograms (132 pounds), into a 550-kilometer (340-mile) orbit, state media reported. The rocket bore a Quranic verse: "That which is left by Allah is better for you, if you are believers.”

A state-owned subsidiary of Iran's Defense Ministry and experts at the Aerospace Research Institute built the satellite with others to “test hardware and software systems for orbital maneuver technology validation,” state media said, without elaborating.

Gen. Hossein Salami, the head of the Guard, praised the launch in a statement and said scientists successfully overcame “the atmosphere of extensive and oppressive international sanctions."

The U.S. State Department and the American military did not immediately respond to requests for comment over the Iranian launch.

The United States had previously said Iran’s satellite launches defy a U.N. Security Council resolution and called on Tehran to undertake no activity involving ballistic missiles capable of delivering nuclear weapons. U.N. sanctions related to Iran’s ballistic missile program expired last October.

Under Iran’s relatively moderate former President Hassan Rouhani, the Islamic Republic slowed its space program for fear of raising tensions with the West. Hard-line President Ebrahim Raisi, a protege of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei who came to power in 2021, has pushed the program forward. Raisi died in a helicopter crash in May.

It's unclear what Iran's new president, the reformist Masoud Pezeshkian, wants for the program as he was silent on the issue while campaigning.

The U.S. intelligence community’s worldwide threat assessment this year said Iran's development of satellite launch vehicles “would shorten the timeline” for Iran to develop an intercontinental ballistic missile because it uses similar technology.

Intercontinental ballistic missiles can be used to deliver nuclear weapons. Iran is now producing uranium close to weapons-grade levels after the collapse of its nuclear deal with world powers. Tehran has enough enriched uranium for “several” nuclear weapons, if it chooses to produce them, the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency repeatedly has warned.

Iran has always denied seeking nuclear weapons and says its space program, like its nuclear activities, is for purely civilian purposes. However, U.S. intelligence agencies and the IAEA say Iran had an organized military nuclear program up until 2003.

The launch also came ahead of the second anniversary of the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini, which sparked nationwide protests against Iran's mandatory headscarf, or hijab, law and the country's Shiite theocracy.

Gambrell reported from Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

This undated photo provided by Iranian Space Agency, ISA, shows Chamran-1 satellite. Iran launched the satellite into space Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024, with a rocket built by the country's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, state-run media reported, the latest for a program the West fears helps Tehran advance its ballistic missile program. (ISA via AP)