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9 months ago
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Barcelona’s 20th game of the 2023-24 La Liga season saw them take the trip to one of Spain’s most daunting stadiums – Benito Villamarin. Taking on one of the league’s best sides in recent years was far from an easy ask, but one hoped the Blaugranas would draw inspiration from the 5-0 defeat they inflicted on the same opposition at Montjuic last year.
Xavi deployed his strongest eleven on the night, starting with Inaki Pena in goal. Ronald Araujo was joined by debutant Pau Cubarsi in central defence with Alejandro Balde and Jules Kounde at full-back.
Frenkie de Jong, Pedri and Ilkay Gundogan started in the middle of the park. They were joined by Robert Lewandowski, Ferran Torres and Lamine Yamal in the final third.
The Azulgranas got the clash underway in Seville with comfortable domination of possession in the opening spell. They featured a fierce press, breaking Betis’ buildup at the roots.
Five minutes into the game, however, the first big chance fell to the hosts. Stemming from a long-range free-kick, Isco’s eventual lofted pass found Henrique in space. The Betis star, however, could not make the most of it.
The period that followed saw the Catalans build up in intensity with waves of impressive attacks. Betis’ high line helped Barcelona progress with ease, for they easily threaded through the gaps in defence.
After a brief Betis chance in the 12th minute, Barcelona found their first real opportunity of the night. De Jong found a lovely flick to find Pedri through on goal, but the Canary Islander’s shot scraped the top of the net.
The Catalan pressure went on to build further, and they had their reward in the 21st minute. It did involve a great deal of fortune, for it was a deflection off Gundogan’s initial pass that saw it fall at Pedri’s feet. The youngster smartly crossed the ball towards the far post where Ferran Torres was in a position to capitalise.
Lamine Yamal had his attempt on goal in the 29th minute only to have it denied by Rui Silva’s toes. Betis dominated the next five minutes of play but did not create any significant threat to Barcelona’s defence. Their only notable chance was a long-range strike from Isco that Pena conveniently converted.
Barcelona’s teenage star Yamal produced a moment of magic in the 39th minute of the game that left fans in awe. Receiving the ball at the edge of the area, he faked a shot convincingly before curling the ball onto the post. Torres attempted to finish the rebound but fired it wide.
Xavi’s men put the ball into the back of the net in the 45th minute of the game once more through Robert Lewandowski’s connection with Ferran Torres. The move, however, was labelled offside.
Heading into the half-time break, Barcelona boasted a one-goal lead and, more importantly, a dominant and comfortable half of football.
The second half got off to a sensational start for the visitors as Ferran Torres fired his second goal of the night past Silva. The move began through a Jules Kounde pass to Lamine Yamal who tried his luck from the by-line.
The youngster’s shot hit the woodwork, but fell kindly for his compatriot who slammed it into the back of the net.
Los Verdiblancos pushed in the moments to come, even reaching the Catalans’ goal line in the 53rd minute. Kounde cleared the ball off the line with his head, retaining the two-goal advantage.
Minutes later, Fekir fired a bullet towards the Catalan goal but was denied by Pena. Yet, Real Betis did not cave in.
Isco Alcaron pounced on Pena’s poor clearance in the 55th minute with a vicious volley that could not be stopped. Betis pulled one back, and the game was on once again.
Two minutes later, Betis emphatically scored once again through Isco on the break. The goal was ruled out for offside, but VAR confirmed that it was legal.
Xavi replaced Lewandowski with Vitor Roque in the 63rd minute.
The hosts continued to maintain the steam on their side even after their quick-fire goals, gunning down a winner. Cardoso, Enrique and Isco kept the Catalans’ defence on their toes as they pushed forward to no end. Fermin Lopez replaced Pedri in the 70th minute.
Real Betis came close through Henrique in the 76th minute while Roque once again came close to scoring but could not capitalise.
Pau Cubarsi was replaced by Joao Felix in the 81st minute.
The Portuguese protege almost made an instant impact after coming on. His first chance did not make it to the back of the net, but it was his unbelievable finish from outside of the boot that gave Barcelona a 3-2 lead in the 89th minute. Felix started the move and finished it on his own. World class.
Barcelona’s third goal forced Betis to foray forward in numbers, leaving acres of space behind. Yamal capitalised on the same to find Torres minutes later, and the Spaniard completed his hat-trick with a confident flick past Silva. 4-2, game over.
In the end, Barcelona took home the three points, and it is safe to say that it was well deserved. They move up to 44 points on the league standings, now seven points behind Real Madrid and five points behind Girona.
