Lamine Yamal, Rodri, Gabriel Jesus, Eric Garcia and Dani Olmo all scored for Barcelona as they defeated Real Betis in a seven-goal thriller to stay five points clear at the top of La Liga.
In an entertaining end-to-end encounter between two sides in this season’s Champions League, Real Betis played the final 40 minutes with 10 men after Facundo Bernal was shown a red card for an off-the-ball incident.
Yamal opened the scoring with a sensational effort from outside of the penalty area. After a clever ball roll and flick to shift past an opposing defender, he fired a ferocious strike past Betis’ Alvaro Valles.
Betis levelled less than 20 minutes later when former West Ham midfielder Pablo Fornals saw his cross headed in by Valentin Gomez.
Barcelona re-took the lead before half-time as 2024 Ballon d’Or-winner Rodri headed in a Fermin Lopez corner. It was Rodri’s first goal for Barcelona since joining them in the summer from Manchester City.
Former Tottenham midfielder Giovanni Lo Celso’s long-range half-volley found the back of the net, only for the goal to be disallowed for a handball in the build-up.
That infringement took place around 15 seconds before Lo Celso’s strike, but was deemed to be in the same phase of play.
After having a goal thrown out for offside seconds before, Jesus scored a fantastic passing move to put Barcelona ahead 3-1. When Lamine Yamal teed up the ball from close range, Jesus merely needed to turn it into an empty net.
Betis soon responded with a goal from Abde Ezzalzouli, who converted after a scorching counter-attack.
Following the goal, a fight ensued, with Bernal and Lamine Yamal clashing. Bernal was ejected after seizing the Barcelona forward and digging his head in.
Barca did regain a two-goal lead when Garcia joined fellow ex-City players on the scoresheet. Following a blocked Lamine Yamal free-kick, defender Pau Cubarsi squared the ball to Garcia, who converted from close range as Betis failed to clear their lines.
In the final ten minutes, substitute Dani Olmo scored a fifth goal with a brilliant finish from the edge of the penalty box.
Hansi Flick’s team earned three points, making it their 11th win in a row in all competitions this season. They are five points ahead of Atletico Madrid at the top of La Liga, and nine points Barca did regain a two-goal lead when Garcia joined fellow ex-City players on the scoresheet.
Following a blocked Lamine Yamal free-kick, defender Pau Cubarsi squared the ball to Garcia, who converted from close range as Betis failed to clear their lines.
In the final ten minutes, substitute Dani Olmo scored a fifth goal with a brilliant finish from the edge of the penalty box.
Hansi Flick’s team earned three points, making it their 11th win in a row in all competitions this season. They are five points ahead of Atletico Madrid at the top of La Liga, and nine points
