View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Soccer Laduma (@soccer_laduma)

Login

Five-Star Barca Run Riot Over Betis To Move Top

Five-Star Barca Run Riot Over Betis To Move Top

BARCELONA, SPAIN - SEPTEMBER 16: Raphinha of FC Barcelona celebrates after scoring the teams fourth goal during the LaLiga EA Sports match between FC Barcelona and Real Betis at Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys on September 16, 2023 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)

FC Barcelona moved to the top of the LaLiga standings after thrashing Real Betis 5-0 on Saturday evening.

LaLiga

Result: Barcelona 5-0 Real Betis

Date: 16 September 2023

Venue: Camp Nou

Barca manager Xavi handed new signings Joao Cancelo and Joao Felix their first starts and recalled Ferran Torres, the last two joining Robert Lewandowski upfront, as three changes from their win over Osasuna.

The Catalan giants had a slow start and were almost punished on 16 minutes after Luiz Henrique went through on goal and fired a strike across goal that flashed just wide.

Blaugrana increased their tempo after that and Felix eventually broke the deadlock on 25 minutes with a strike in the box after he latched onto a cross by Oriol Romeu.

Lewandowski quickly doubled the lead for the hosts seven minutes later with a low strike off the post after a through ball by Andreas Christensen.

Betis did not drop their heads and were a threat going forward as Willian Jose had a big chance just before the break a lofted cross by Isco but his volley from point-blank range was kept out by goalkeeper Andre ter Stegen.

Barca were more forceful coming from the interval and after missing a couple of chances, Torres eventually put the game to bed just after the hour-mark with a well taken free-kick that curled around the wall and found the back of the net.

And that was the last touch for Torres, as he was among three players withdrawn at once by Xavi and in came the fresh legs of Raphinha, Lamine Yamal and Ilkay Gundogan.

Raphinha made an immediate impact, as he added a fourth goal for Blaugrana two minutes later with a strike across goal that found the bottom corner after he cut in from the right flank.

Barca were showing off in the closing stages, with a couple of nutmegs as Cancelo rounded off the scoring in style eight minutes before time after he turned a defender inside, out and fired a low strike across goal past the diving hands of shot-stopper Rui Silva.

You must be SIGNED IN to read and post comments.

Click here to register!

Related tags

Comments

Top 5

How Pirates Could Line Up With New Signings

Jul 04, 2025 08:41 AM in Orlando-Pirates

Ndlovu, Monyane & Co! How Chiefs Could Line Up

Jul 06, 2025 02:58 PM in Kaizer-Chiefs

Sundowns Confirm Five Exits

Jul 07, 2025 07:27 AM in Mamelodi-Sundowns

Sundowns Prepared To Break Record For New Signing?

Jul 04, 2025 02:59 PM in Mamelodi-Sundowns

Official: African Star Re-Joins Al Ahly

Jul 05, 2025 03:34 PM in African Football

Sundowns Confirm Five Exits

Jul 07, 2025 07:27 AM in Mamelodi-Sundowns

Latest: What's Holding Up Chiefs' Move For Sundowns Striker

Jul 07, 2025 09:54 AM in Kaizer-Chiefs

Aziz Ki Already On His Way Out Of Wydad?

Jul 06, 2025 11:47 PM in African Football

Chiefs Star Maart Set For SV Ried

Jul 07, 2025 08:31 AM in KC-Campaign