Listen to the article
Barcelona matched Real Madrid’s record of nine consecutive victories to open a La Liga season — a mark set in 1968-69 — by defeating Real Betis 5-2 in Seville on Saturday, in a match that featured a Lamine Yamal masterclass, a red card and a contentious VAR intervention that wiped out a Betis goal.
The result keeps Hansi-Dieter Flick’s side on a perfect record after nine matchdays, though the win was far from straightforward. Barcelona had played in the Champions League four days earlier and face a punishing week ahead: a UCL fixture against Paris Saint-Germain followed by the Clásico against Real Madrid in La Liga.
Yamal sets the tone early
Barcelona controlled possession from the first whistle as Betis sat in a 4-4-2 mid-block, with Pablo Fornals and Ernandes forming the first defensive line. After ten minutes of probing, Barcelona found the opening goal with their very first shot on target. Yamal beat one defender twice, then, without entering the penalty area, curled the ball into the far corner from distance to make it 0-1.
Betis equalised midway through the first half from a set piece. After a corner was not cleared, Fornals picked up the loose ball and laid it off for Gomes, who finished to level at 1-1. The match opened up thereafter, with chances at both ends before the break. Just before half-time, Barcelona restored their lead from another corner: Fermin Lopez delivered to the centre of the box and Rodri headed home — his first goal for the club — to make it 1-2.
Red card and VAR controversy
The second half brought further drama. Gabriel Jesus extended the lead to 1-3 in the 51st minute, but Betis hit back almost immediately when Azzalzuliy scored to make it 2-3. In between, Betis midfielder Bernal was sent off in the 54th minute.
Shortly after, Lo Celso struck what appeared to be an equally spectacular long-range effort to level the match, only for VAR to disallow the goal on the grounds that Kucho Ernandes had handled the ball in an earlier phase of the same attack. The decision drew scrutiny: the handball had occurred before play was restarted, and the goal came after the move had been rebuilt — a sequence that raised questions about the application of the rule.
With Betis reduced to ten men, Barcelona reasserted control. Eric Garcia made it 2-4 in the 62nd minute after coming on as a substitute at half-time, and Dani Olmo, also a substitute, sealed the win at 2-5 nine minutes from time.
Rotation limited despite fixture congestion
Despite the congested schedule, Flick made relatively few changes from the side that played in Istanbul. The Barcelona lineup included Inaki Peña, Cubarsí, Espart, Koundé, Pedri, Rodri, Fermin Lopez, Adeyemi, Yamal and Gabriel Jesus, with Eric Garcia, Olmo, Gordon, Raphinha and Gavi introduced from the bench during the match.
For Betis, Vales started in goal, with a back line of Llorente, Gomes, F. Garcia and Bellerin. Ceballos and Bernal started in midfield before the latter’s dismissal. Bellerin and Llorente were booked for Betis; Fermin Lopez and Yamal received yellow cards for Barcelona.