Real Betis - Barcelona summary: Ferran hat-trick, score, goals, highlights, LaLiga
Real Betis 2-4 Barcelona: as it happened
Barcelona beat Betis
Barcelona led 1-0 at the break before the second half exploded with five more goals. Isco's brace levelled things up for Betis before Joao Félix came off the bench to give Barcelona the lead again. Ferran Torres then put the game to bed late on with his hat-trick to seal an important victory for the Blaugrana on the road.
Barcelona have beaten Betis in a Seville thriller.
There's the final whistle!
We have eight minutes of additional time in total, and two left.
Barcelona scored two, Betis scored two, and then Barcelona scored two again. It's been very enjoyable.
Lamine Yamal plays Ferran through on goal and the latter chips it beautifully over Rui Silva to make it 4-2 to Barcelona. And that should be that.
What a goal!
It's a superb piece of play between Joao Félix and Ferran Torres. The Portuguese plays a one-two and when he receives it back, he hits it first time with the outside of the boot into the bottom corner. It's a gorgeous goal.
Luis Henrique!
His strike in the box is blocked by Araújo. It's hitting the target but the Uruguayan positions himself superbly.
It's 2-2 and either side could win it at this stage. The fresh legs have added energy at both ends.
Cubarsí comes off after making his debut at 16. And he showed just why Xavi gave him the nod.
Barcelona change
OFF Pau Cubarsí
ON Joao Félix
Joao Félix is about to come on for Barcelona. It remains 2-2 in Seville as we enter the final 10 minutes of normal time.
Luiz Henrique goes so close!
He sets off on a mazy run, before cutting inside and driving from distance.
The effort flies just wide of the post. Pellegrini thought his side had taken the lead.
OFF Johnny Cardoso
ON Sergi Altimira
OFF Pedri
ON Fermín López
Ferran - looking for his hat-trick - fires his shot from 20 yards over the bar.
Xavi turns and claps the forward's effort. 2-2
Barcelona break down the other end. Vitor Roque is in an offside position.
It's all to play for in the final 20+ minutes.
Betis have the momentum now. Debutant Johnny Cardoso fires over the bar.
The game has been turned on its head in just three minutes. A mad few minutes in the Andalusian capital.
Xavi is about to make a change.
He's ONSIDE and he has a quick-fire brace. Isco has made it 2-2 at the Benito Villamarín. Barcelona are simply stunned.
Isco lobs Iñaki Peña with a sublime finish!
The goal stands!
VAR is checking the goal now...
Iñaki Peña punches the cross away and it lands at Isco's feet. The Spaniard buries his half-volley into the roof of the net. It's wonderful technique and it's also on his 'weaker' left.
This has been one of Barcelona's finer performances this season. There is a long way to go yet but they have been on top and have had some top performers.
Lamine Yamal, 16, has been outstanding in this game.
Lamine Yamal does so well, getting to the byline, before crossing. His cross hits the post and lands perfectly at Ferran's feet. The latter fires home from close range first time to double the Bluagrana's lead.
Pellegrini has mixed things up at the break, making a double change.
The second half is underway!
Barcelona lead at the break thanks to a Ferran Torres goal. The Blaugrana have been the better side and deserve their lead. It could be more. Lamine Yamal smacked the post with a fine effort but it remains 1-0 at half-time.
And there's the whistle for half-time!
And the decision is OFFSIDE. So Lewandowski's goal has been ruled out and it remains 1-0 to Barcelona.
They're now taking a look at the Lewandowski goal.
There will be one minute added on.
Pezzella takes down Lewandowski. It's Betis' seventh foul of the game. Gundogan stands over the free-kick...
Pau Cubarsí hasn't put a foot wrong on his debut for Barcelona; the 16-year-old is showing serious maturity in defence.
Lamine Yamal!
He cuts in from the right and fires a superb left-footed rising strike from 16 yards onto the post.
It's a brilliant piece of play by the teenager, who goes so close to doubling the Blaugrana's lead.
Isco strikes from distance but it's low and straight at Iñaki Peña.
The Barcelona shot-stopper has had a handy shift so far.
Ferran collides with Pezzella... it's a free to Betis deep in their own half.
USA international Cardoso has been quiet so far. It is his first game for Betis and it may take time to adapt after joining from Brazilian side Internacional.
Bellerín gets down the right, before crossing into the box. He's looking for Willian José, but it ends up in Iñaki Peña's hands.
Ferran Torres has his ninth goal of the season - impressive numbers for a player who hasn't been a regular in 2023-24.
It's the former Valencia player's fifth in the league.
Pedri squares it across goal for Ferran, who taps it into the empty net.
Barcelona have the lead. Ferran scores again.
Marc Roca!
It's worked very well by Betis, from the left half-space and it's played centrally to Roca, who strikes it wide with his weaker right foot.
His 20-yard effort goes wide of the post.
Barcelona are working it around patiently. It's finally clipped through the middle by De Jong to Pedri. The latter takes it down delightfully before lobbing it over the Betis bar. He had more time than he realised. It's another good chance but it remains goalless in the Andalusian capital.
Barcelona have two 16-year-olds in the starting XI today. Lamine Yamal and Pau Cubarsí are both out there. What were you doing at 16?
USMNT midfielder Johnny Cardoso is making his Betis debut in midfield.
The 22-year-old can operate as a No 6 as well as further forward. He has been capped seven times by the USMNT.
Gundogan sends the Barcelona free-kick from the right into the box. It's eventually headed away. 0-0
Isco has been superb so far this season. He has found his form again after a couple of years in the wilderness.
Luiz Henrique!
What a chance!
Isco chips a delightful ball over the top but Luiz Henrique can't keep his effort down and lobs it over the bar.
A great early chance for the home side in Seville.
Both sides come into this one in lower positions than we would have expected at the start of the season. Betis sit in 9th, while Barca are 4th in the table.
Barcelona win the first corner of the game.
Pedri whips it in from the right... it's headed away at the front post.
Luiz Henrique fouls Balde and Barcelona have an early free.
And we're underway in Seville!
Guardado will join Club León in Mexico. He's had a cracking career in Spain to be fair to him.
Andrés Guardado comes out to say goodbye to Betis. Both sets of players welcome him on to the pitch. It's a lovely touch as he waves goodbye to the fans with his two kids.
Barcelona XI
- goalkeeper
- 13Iñaki Peña
- defenders
- 23Koundé
- 4Ronald Araújo
- 3Alex Balde
- 33Pau Cubarsí
- midfielders
- 8Pedri
- 22Gündogan
- 21Frenkie De Jong
- forwards
- 7Ferrán Torres
- 9Lewandowski
- 27Lamine Yamal
- substitutes
- CoachXavier Hernández Creuss
- 14João Félix
- 38Marc Guiu
- 39Hector Fort
- 31Diego Kochen
- 26Ander Astralaga
- 32Fermín López
- 19Vitor Roque
- 18Oriol Romeu
- 20Sergi Roberto
Betis XI
- goalkeeper
- 13Rui Silva
- defenders
- 6Pezzella
- 20Abner
- 19Sokratis
- 2Héctor Bellerín
- midfielders
- 21Marc Roca
- 4Johnny
- 22Isco Alarcón
- forwards
- 11Luiz Henrique
- 12Willian José
- 38Assane Diao
- substitutes
- CoachManuel Pellegrinis
- 8Fekir
- 9Borja Iglesias
- 30Francisco Vieites
- 16Juan Cruz
- 17Rodri
- 34Ricardo Visus
- 27Sergi Altimira
- 33Xavier Pleguezuelo
- 42Pablo Busto
Both sets of players have left their respective dressing rooms and are in the tunnel.
Barcelona are fourth in LaLiga and despite being reigning champions, have not been themselves this season.
Xavi and his staff will be under pressure to move them closer to Girona and Real Madrid at the top in this second half of the season.
| T | MP | W | D | L | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 49 | 20 | 15 | 4 | 1 |
| 3 | 41 | 21 | 12 | 5 | 4 |
| 4 | 41 | 19 | 12 | 5 | 2 |
| 5 | 38 | 19 | 12 | 2 | 5 |
| 6 | 35 | 21 | 9 | 8 | 4 |
Kick-off in Seville is just over 10 minutes away!
Spanish legends
Two legends of the game - Joaquín and Xavi - met before kick-off to have a chat.
Barcelona have two 16-year-olds in their starting XI today. Lamine Yamal and Pau Cubarsí have both been given the nod by Xavi.
Betis are sitting lower than they would like to be in the table. They will be hoping for a win today to move closer to the European places.
Their next game in Europe, by the way, is at home to Dinamo Zagreb on February 15.
| T | MP | W | D | L | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | 32 | 21 | 9 | 5 | 7 |
| 8 | 31 | 21 | 9 | 4 | 8 |
| 9 | 31 | 20 | 7 | 10 | 3 |
| 10 | 26 | 20 | 6 | 8 | 6 |
| 11 | 25 | 20 | 7 | 4 | 9 |
Warm-ups underway
The Barcelona players are out for their pre-match warm-ups. Kick-off is just around the corner.
Guardado with Betis
Andrés Guardado became a key player in his time at Real Betis, wearing the famous green and white shirt 218 times.
He also went on to win the Copa del Rey with the Andalusian club in 2022 and later became club captain.
Guardado leaves Betis
Earlier this week, Mexican midfielder Andrés Guardado left Betis. He will soon sign for Mexican outfit Club León.
Cardoso comes in
Johnny Cardoso has been signed by Betis to strengthen their midfield. The 22-year-old stands out for his power but also for his game intelligence and he can operate as a No 6 as well as further forward. He has been capped seven times by the USMNT and played five times for the USA U23 side.
Almería - who are bottom of the LaLiga table - are beating Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabéu!
Barcelona XI
Xavi has named the following XI at the Benito Villamarín:
16-year-old defender Pau Cubarsí is making his Barcelona debut.
Cardoso debut
Today will be Johnny Cardoso's debut with his new club after joining from Brazilian side Internacional.
He was one of the outstanding players in the Copa Libertadores last year, however, his team were knocked out of the tournament at the semi-final stage against fellow Brazilian outfit Fluminense, in a match that had Betis representatives in attendance.
Betis XI
Here's the Betis team that will play against Barcelona.
There is a start in midfield for USMNT player Johnny Cardoso.
Betis player of the season, Isco, is also in from the start.
“It’s a tough one,” said Xavi pre-match.
“They’ve gone a long time unbeaten at home. We are starting the second half of the season with a lot of excitement. Girona and Madrid are ahead but I think we can catch them. [Betis] let you play and this is good for us.”
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Ahead of today's game with Betis, Barcelona head coach Xavi Hernández confirmed that Joao Cancelo will not make it back in time for the trip to Seville, but that he would be back against Athletic in the Copa del Rey quarter-final.
And Barca then suffered a further setback in yesterday afternoon’s session. Andreas Christensen was not able to participate with the squad and won't feature today.
Almería have taken a shock lead at the Bernabéu. Joe has you covered in that one.
Today's venue: Estadio Benito Villamarín
Today's venue in Seville is one of the special ones in Spain. This place will be rocking shortly.
Real Betis squad
Manuel Pellegrini has named the following squad for Betis' home clash against Barcelona today.
Real Betis vs Barcelona: welcome!
Hello and welcome to AS USA's live coverage of this match between Real Betis and Barcelona.
I'm Kieran Quaile and I'll be taking you through all the action from Seville.