Barcelona produced a breathtaking performance on Saturday night to defeat Real Betis 5-3 at the Benito Villamarín Stadium, thanks to a sensational hat-trick from Ferran Torres. Despite conceding an early goal, Hans-Dieter Flick’s men showcased resilience, attacking flair, and clinical finishing, thrilling fans and solidifying their position at the top of La Liga.
The Catalans found themselves trailing within just six minutes, as former Manchester United winger Antony scored his fifth goal of the season, putting Betis ahead. However, Barcelona responded almost immediately. Ferran Torres equalised with a composed finish from close range, demonstrating his poise under pressure. Remarkably, just two minutes later, the Spanish forward struck again, giving his team the lead and setting the tone for a dominant performance.
At the 30-minute mark, young winger Roni Bardhi doubled the advantage, scoring his first La Liga goal from a Pedri assist. Barcelona’s first-half dominance was cemented when Torres completed his hat-trick in the 40th minute with a stunning strike from outside the box, bringing the halftime score to an emphatic 4-1.
The second half saw Barcelona continue their attacking display. In the 58th minute, they were awarded a penalty, converted with ease by Lamin Yamal to make it 5-1. Betis managed to claw back two goals late on, with Diego Llorente scoring in the 85th minute and Kucho Hernández netting a stoppage-time penalty following a foul on Jules Koundé, bringing the final score to 5-3.
With this victory, Barcelona now lead La Liga with 40 points from 16 games, a testament to their relentless offensive style and tactical discipline under Flick. Real Betis, meanwhile, remain fifth with 24 points from 15 matches, left to rue their defensive lapses against a clinical opponent.