Barcelona sweep past Real Betis to stay five points clear

Barcelona stayed five points clear at the top of La Liga after a 5-2 win at Real Betis, with Lamine Yamal, Rodri, Gabriel Jesus, Eric García and Dani Olmo all scoring in a seven-goal thriller.

The result was Hansi Flick's side's 11th win in as many games in all competitions this season, and it left them five points clear of Atlético Madrid and nine clear of Real Madrid, who have played a game fewer.

Yamal's sensational opener

Nine days out from the 2026 Ballon d'Or awards, teenage contender Lamine Yamal opened the scoring with a sensational effort from outside the penalty area. After a clever ball roll and flick to shift past an opposing defender, he fired a ferocious strike past Betis goalkeeper Álvaro Valles. It was Yamal's eighth La Liga goal of the season.

Hosts Betis levelled less than 20 minutes later, when former West Ham midfielder Pablo Fornals saw his cross headed in by Valentin Gómez.

Rodri heads Barcelona back in front

Barcelona re-took the lead before half-time, with 2024 Ballon d'Or winner Rodri heading in a Fermín López corner. It was the former Manchester City midfielder's first goal for Barcelona since joining them in the summer.

Lo Celso denied before the break

Betis were left frustrated at half-time. 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.

Jesus and Ezzalzouli trade goals

Having seen a goal ruled out for offside seconds earlier, Jesus then gave Barcelona a 3-1 lead after a brilliant passing move. He only had to turn the ball into an empty net when teed up by Yamal from close range.

Betis immediately clawed a goal back through Abde Ezzalzouli, converting at the end of a blistering counter-attack.

Bernal's red card

After that goal went in, a melee broke out which saw Facundo Bernal and Yamal clash. After grabbing the Barcelona forward, Bernal dug his head towards him and was dismissed in the 54th minute, leaving Betis to play the final 40 minutes with 10 men.

García and Olmo complete the scoring

Barcelona restored a two-goal advantage through Eric García, who joined his fellow former Manchester City players on the scoresheet. Following a blocked Yamal free-kick, defender Pau Cubarsí squared the ball to García to convert from close range with Betis unable to clear their lines.

Substitute Dani Olmo added a fifth in the final 10 minutes with a clever finish from the edge of the penalty area, a right-footed shot into the bottom right corner assisted by Cubarsí.

Gabriel Jesus was replaced by Gavi in the 79th minute because of an injury, and Eric García went off injured after Barcelona had used all of their substitutes. Anthony Gordon had two efforts saved by Valles late on, and Raphinha had a shot from outside the box blocked.

What the numbers say

Barcelona dominated possession with 69.3 per cent to Betis's 30.7 and registered 18 shots to the hosts' six. Ten of Barcelona's efforts were on target, with five of Betis's. Barcelona had 31 touches inside the opposition box to Betis's 11.

The visitors completed 751 passes at 92.1 per cent accuracy, 145 of them in the final third, against Betis's 324 at 79 per cent and 36. Betis made more tackles, 17 to 15, and more clearances, 20 to 17, and attempted more long balls, 57 to 26. Both sides committed a similar number of fouls, Betis 10 and Barcelona 11, with Betis collecting three yellow cards to Barcelona's two.

What the result means

The win takes Barcelona to 27 points from nine matches, five clear of Atlético Madrid, with Real Madrid nine points behind having played a game fewer. Betis remain third on 19 points.

Barcelona have now won 5-2 at the Estadio de La Cartuja having also won 5-3 there in December 2025, and they beat Betis 3-1 at home in May. Yamal was voted BBC Sport's player of the match by users, with an average rating of 9.15.

SportsLigue