There is a difference between a hot start and a team that already looks built to punish almost any opponent it meets. Barcelona’s first five league matches have pushed them to 15 points, 21 goals and a clear place at the top of the table, and that is before you even get to the more uncomfortable number for the rest of LaLiga: a 21-match winning streak at Spotify Camp Nou.
That is the backdrop for the Barça Game against Racing Santander on September 16, 2026 at 03:30 PM ET. Barcelona are not just unbeaten; they have been overwhelming. Their 21 goals in five matches are their most prolific opening to a league season since 2011/12, and the main reason for that is Raphinha, who has already scored six times through five league matches.
Raphinha has been the engine of the attack
The headline number is the six goals, but the wider profile is even more persuasive. Raphinha has added two assists, 13 chances created and 11 shots on target, which tells you this has not been a one-dimensional scoring burst. He has been finishing attacks, starting them and consistently putting Barcelona in threatening positions.
Barcelona’s attack has also had other layers. Fermin Lopez has scored four goals, while Lamine Yamal has supplied two assists. That spread matters because it makes Barcelona harder to contain. If one defender is focused on Raphinha’s movement and another on Yamal’s creativity, there is still room for a second wave of runners to do damage.
Racing Santander arrive with a different kind of pressure
Racing Santander come into the match with 0 points from two matches and a -2 goal differential, which is the simple version of why this is such a difficult assignment. They are newly promoted, still searching for their first point and already facing a Barcelona side that has not lost at home in league play for a very long time.
The only way to frame this as competitive is to ask whether Racing can slow the game enough to keep Barcelona from turning territory into chance quality. That is easier said than done at Camp Nou, where Barcelona have won all five previous meetings with Racing Santander and have strung together 21 consecutive LaLiga home wins.
The numbers suggest Barcelona are controlling more than just results
Barcelona’s start is not only about volume scoring. They have also been efficient in the areas that usually decide whether a strong start is sustainable. The attack is producing chances at a high rate, the key forwards are sharing responsibility and the home record suggests the team is comfortable dictating matches before they become messy.
Racing, by contrast, have only 38 of 83 passes completed at 48%, with eight goals scored, two conceded and three clean sheets in the figures available from the source material. Even without stretching beyond those numbers, the contrast is clear: Barcelona are arriving as a team in rhythm, while Racing are still trying to find a stable footing.
For viewers, the match can be watched on Fubo, Deportes and +. For Barcelona, the real question is not whether they can stay top of the table. It is whether this opening burst is becoming the shape of their season. For Racing Santander, the task is more basic: survive long enough to make the league leaders work for every inch. Right now, Barcelona look equipped to ask far more questions than they are forced to answer.
