Defending champions FC Barcelona beat Real Betis 5-0 at Barcelona’s Olympic Stadium in the 5th round of the Spanish Football League, keeping Xavi Hernández’s side unbeaten in La Liga.
The Catalans were in great shape for the meeting, as they won their last three matches in La Liga, and the team also got a new star in the person of 16-year-old Lamine Yamal, who made his debut in the Spanish national team during the international break and became the youngest goalscorer of the national team. . The teenage star now got a rest from Xavi Hernández, but the Portuguese international Joao Felix, who arrived on loan from Atlético Madrid, joined the team in his place, and Joao Cancelo, who arrived from Manchester City, also started for the first time.
Betis have won just two of four games this season, but Manuel Pellegrini’s side have had a tough draw. This time, the former star of Real Madrid, Isco, who was chosen as the best player of his team after all four matches against Betis this season, was also present in the Sevilla team.
As expected, Barcelona had more of the ball, but the Catalan team could not create a big chance for a long time. In the 25th minute, the garnet-red-blue team took the lead after the interplay of two new compositions. After a possession, Oril Romeu passed the ball to Joao Felix, who started behind the defense, the Portuguese forward’s shot was blocked by Hector Bellerín, but the ball bounced back to Felix, who bombed into the goal from a sharp angle.
Joao Felix played sensational football against Betis Source: AFP/Josep Lago
After the lead, the visitors were noticeably confused, and the Catalans took advantage of this and increased their advantage with a dazzling goal in the 32nd minute. The Dane Andreas Christensen’s pass was released by Joao Felix with a careless movement between his legs, and this caught the Betis defenders so by surprise that Robert Lewandowski was able to exit in a flash and mercilessly fired into the bottom right corner.
Barcelona could have decided the match in the 42nd minute. At the end of a quick counter-attack, Joao Felix teased Lewandowski, the Polish attacker got into the ball, but his close shot was blocked by a former Barcelona player, Marc Bartra, sliding in.
Lewandowski and Joao Felix felt each other very well during the match Source: AFP/Josep Lago
Betis could have come back into the match in extra time. Isco’s ball in front of the goal was headed in by Willian José from eight meters, but Marc-Andre ter Stegen’s shot from the Brazilian forward was pushed out of the right side of the goal with a great feat.
In the second half, Barcelona played with a huge advantage, missed the jumps one after another, but then decided the match in the 62nd minute. Rui Silva, the goalkeeper of Betis, made a horrible save from a free kick, and Ferrán Torres, who was behind the ball, scored from 23 meters he curled the ball into the bottom left corner.
The last time Barcelona scored a goal from a direct free kick was on May 2, 2021, when Lionel Messi scored in the Champions League against Valencia. Since then, the Catalan side had 41 unsuccessful free-kick attempts before Ferran Torres scored against Betis. Spain’s Ferrán Torres scored his third goal of the season Source: AFP/Josep Lago
Barcelona increased their lead in the 66th minute. Raphinha, sent in place of Ferrán Torres, received a pass, the Brazilian national team winger pushed the ball, then He shot into the bottom left corner from 18 meters.
In the sequel, the only question was how much the difference would be. Barca created many chances, but the fifth goal had to wait until the 81st minute. Then the Portuguese Joao Cancelo went to the right side, layed a defender down with a trick, and then He shot from 13 meters to the right side of the goal.
With the win, Barcelona remained unbeaten in La Liga and temporarily topped the table.
2023-09-16 20:57:00
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