Barcelona survived an eight-goal thriller at the Estadio La Cartuja, beating Real Betis 5-3 to move four points clear at the top of LaLiga. Ferran Torres struck a first-half hat-trick, Roony Bardghji delivered a goal and an assist, and Lamine Yamal added a second-half penalty, as Hansi Flick’s side extended their winning run to six league matches.
Betis had opened the scoring inside six minutes through Antony and continued to create chances late on, with Diego Llorente and Cucho Hernández netting consolations. But their collapse in a frenetic first half – combined with a controversial penalty decision after the break – left them with too much to do. Manuel Pellegrini’s men remain fifth, while Barcelona maintain their grip on top spot, albeit having played a game more than Real Madrid.
As it happened
Betis made the perfect start. In the sixth minute, a scramble in the box saw Hernández and Pablo Fornals both miscue attempts, only for the loose ball to fall fortuitously to Antony, who swivelled and finished from close range.
Barcelona responded immediately and emphatically. Ferran equalised on 11 minutes after meeting a low Jules Koundé cross at the near post, and less than two minutes later he acrobatically converted Bardghji’s delivery to complete a quick turnaround.
The visitors continued to overwhelm Betis in transition. Just after the half-hour mark, Bardghji – enjoying a standout performance on a rare start – latched onto a through ball from Pedri and rifled a first-time strike into the far corner for 3-1.
Barça added a fourth before the interval. Pedri again drove the move, slipping the ball to Ferran, whose effort from distance took a decisive deflection and wrong-footed Álvaro Valles to seal his hat-trick. Betis pushed late in the half as Aitor Ruibal and Hernández forced half chances, but they trailed 4-1 at the break.
The second half began more quietly, but a moment of controversy reignited the match. Marcus Rashford’s shot deflected off Marc Bartra’s thigh and onto his arm, and although the referee initially waved play on, VAR sent him to the monitor. The penalty was awarded to the fury of Betis and the crowd, and Yamal stroked it into the bottom corner on 59 minutes.
Betis refused to fold and found a late reward. With 85 minutes played, Abde Ezzalzouli flicked on Fornals’ corner at the near post, allowing Llorente to stab home. Five minutes later, Hernández converted a penalty after Koundé brought down Ezzalzouli, but the hosts’ late surge arrived too late to threaten the final outcome.
Barcelona managed the closing stages effectively and saw out another high-scoring victory, maintaining momentum heading into their midweek Champions League tie.
The lineups
BET: Valles; Ruibal, Bartra, Natan, Gómez; Roca, Altimira; Antony, Fornals, Ezzalzouli; Hernández.
BAR: Joan García; Koundé, Cubarsí, Martín, Balde; Eric García, Pedri; Bardghji, Yamal, Rashford; Ferran Torres.