Source: @SportCal

The LALIGA EA SPORTS September awards have a distinctly Barcelona flavour, with Raphinha, Hansi Flick and João Cancelo all recognised after a month in which the Catalan side overwhelmed opponents with goals. Yet the awards also give Yassir Zabiri and Álvaro Valles their due, showing that September produced standout displays well beyond FC Barcelona.

Flick’s award follows four league victories in September, with FC Barcelona scoring 19 goals across wins against Valencia, Levante, Racing and Sevilla. The results underline the attacking output of his side, which scored at least three times in each fixture. Such production places a premium on opponents’ ability to withstand sustained pressure, as Racing found out during a 7-2 defeat at the Spotify Camp Nou. 

Cancelo’s award came from that meeting with Racing. His right-footed strike from outside the penalty area opened the scoring in the eighth minute, curling beyond the goalkeeper after clipping the crossbar. The finish put FC Barcelona on the front foot early and set the pace for a match in which the hosts repeatedly found ways through Racing’s defence. Cancelo’s contribution also highlights the attacking threat a full-back can provide when he moves into shooting positions.

Raphinha’s September form gave FC Barcelona another source of goals. His hat-trick against Sevilla capped a month in which he repeatedly punished defensive mistakes and converted chances at a high rate. After taking the August Player of the Month award, he followed it with another monthly honour for September, making it back-to-back LALIGA EA SPORTS Player of the Month awards. 

Zabiri’s award gives the monthly honours a different dimension. The Moroccan forward scored twice against Deportivo Alavés to help Racing win 2-1, then scored again and supplied an assist against FC Barcelona. His six league goals by the end of September underline his early impact at the club. For a young striker, producing against teams with contrasting defensive styles is a strong return.

Valles completed the award list with a reflex save against Villarreal’s Santi Comesaña in the tenth minute, with the score still goalless. The close-range stop denied Villarreal an early lead and showed how one intervention can keep a match finely balanced.