All news

Barcelona demolish Real Betis 5-2 to make it nine wins from nine in LaLiga

Barcelona thrashed Real Betis 5-2 in Seville on Saturday to maintain their perfect start to the LaLiga season with nine wins from nine matches. Lamine Yamal opened the scoring with a stunning strike before Rodri, Gabriel Jesus, Eric García and Dani Olmo completed the rout. Betis played much of the second half with ten men after Facundo Bernal was sent off.

NatillaByNatilla6 min read
Lamine Yamal celebrates his stunning goal against Real Betis at the Benito Villamarín stadium in LaLiga.
Lamine Yamal celebrates his stunning goal against Real Betis at the Benito Villamarín stadium in LaLiga.

Barcelona rolled into Seville on Saturday and left the Benito Villamarín with the scoreboard smoking after a 5-2 demolition of Real Betis that made it nine wins from nine in LaLiga. Lamine Yamal lit the fuse with a dazzling opener before Rodri, Gabriel Jesus, Eric García and substitute Dani Olmo joined the party, stretching the leaders' blistering league goal tally to 39.

  • Barcelona extended their perfect LaLiga start to nine consecutive wins and 39 goals scored.
  • Lamine Yamal opened the scoring after ten minutes with a superb left-footed strike into the top corner.
  • Rodri, Gabriel Jesus, Eric García and Dani Olmo added the other Barcelona goals; Valentín Gómez and Ez Abde replied for Betis.
  • Facundo Bernal was sent off for headbutting Lamine Yamal, leaving Betis with ten men for much of the second half.
  • Real Madrid, with a game in hand, sit nine points behind the leaders before hosting Sevilla on Sunday.

Lamine Yamal opens the scoring with a classic finish

The Spanish international needed only ten minutes to put Barcelona ahead in familiar fashion. He glided in from the right, cut inside onto his favoured left foot and whipped a strike from the edge of the box into the top corner, giving goalkeeper Joan García no chance. It was the kind of goal that has made him one of the most feared wingers in European football and set the tone for a long evening for the Betis defence.

Betis respond but Rodri restores Barcelona's lead

The home side levelled in the 27th minute when Pablo Fornals collected a rebound on the right and clipped a cross into the middle for Valentín Gómez, who rose highest to head past Joan García. The equaliser sparked the Villamarín crowd into life, but the joy was short-lived. In the 41st minute, Rodri powered in a header from Fermín López's corner to put Barcelona back in front.

Betis thought they had drawn level again just before the break through Gio Lo Celso's spectacular swivelling volley from outside the box, but the effort was ruled out after Cucho Hernández was adjudged to have handled. Shortly after the restart, Gabriel Jesus had a goal disallowed for offside, but he did not have to wait long to get on the scoresheet. In the 51st minute, Lamine Yamal darted down the right and squared for the Brazilian to finish neatly.

Bernal sent off and García seals the victory

A minute later Ez Abde pulled one back on the counter with a low shot inside the right post, but the celebrations turned sour when Facundo Bernal was shown a straight red card following a scuffle. The Betis player was punished for headbutting Lamine Yamal, who was booked for his part in the altercation.

Barcelona made their numerical advantage count in the 63rd minute. Álvaro Valles failed to deal with Lamine Yamal's free-kick and Pau Cubarsi headed the loose ball back across goal for Eric García to tap in. Dani Olmo, introduced from the bench, rounded off the scoring and underlined the depth of a squad that shows no signs of slowing down.

Atlético grind out late win as Real Madrid prepare for Sevilla

Elsewhere in LaLiga, Atlético Madrid claimed their sixth consecutive victory across all competitions with a 1-0 win at Espanyol thanks to a late strike from Álex Baena in the 89th minute. Diego Simeone's side remain five points behind Barcelona. Valencia and Athletic Club played out a goalless draw at Mestalla.

On Sunday, fourth-placed Real Madrid host Sevilla looking to close the gap on the leaders. Los Blancos are nine points behind Barcelona with a game in hand. In the buildup to that match, Real Madrid coach José Mourinho said he would have considered leaving the club last summer if he were in Vinícius Júnior's position, citing the treatment the Brazilian receives from opposition fans. Vinícius is currently serving a four-match ban that will rule him out of the clásico against Barcelona on 25 October.

Luis Díaz hat-trick fires Bayern Munich past Leipzig

In Germany, Luis Díaz scored a hat-trick as Bayern Munich thumped a listless RB Leipzig 6-1 at home to climb to the top of the Bundesliga table. The Colombian, criticised after four league games without a goal, terrorised the Leipzig defence down the left flank. Harry Kane marked his 100th Bundesliga appearance with a goal and two assists, while Aleksandar Pavlovic and Michael Olise also got on the scoresheet. Bayern have now won their last three meetings with Leipzig by a combined score of 17-1.

Inter and Roma lead the way in Serie A; PSG fight back in Ligue 1

In Serie A, Inter moved clear at the top of the table by coming from behind to beat Bologna 3-1 at the Stadio Renato Dall'Ara. Tommaso Pobega fired the hosts in front after ten minutes, but Marcus Thuram, Carlos Augusto and Ange-Yoan Bonny turned the game around for the champions. Roma defeated Genoa 2-0 with first goals for the club from Santiago Castro and Emanuele Lulli, a victory that also marked the 300th Serie A win of Gian Piero Gasperini's managerial career.

In Ligue 1, Paris Saint-Germain produced a fightback to win 3-1 at Strasbourg and move top of the table. Giovanni Reyna gave the home side an early lead, but Ousmane Dembélé, who missed a penalty in the 72nd minute, set up Illia Zabarnyi to equalise before scoring himself and then helping create Désiré Doué's stoppage-time third. Luis Enrique's men have now won four straight league matches.

Frequently asked questions

What was the Real Betis vs Barcelona score?

Barcelona won 5-2 at the Benito Villamarín in Seville. It was their ninth consecutive victory in LaLiga this season, with goals from Lamine Yamal, Rodri, Gabriel Jesus, Eric García and Dani Olmo.

How many goals have Barcelona scored in LaLiga this season?

After the first nine matchdays, Barcelona have scored 39 goals in LaLiga, an average of more than four per game. It is one of the most prolific starts to a domestic campaign in the club's history.

Why was Facundo Bernal sent off against Barcelona?

Facundo Bernal was shown a straight red card for headbutting Lamine Yamal during a scuffle in the second half. The Betis midfielder left his side with ten men, while Lamine Yamal was booked for his involvement.

Based on reporting by The Guardian.