Barcelona equalled Real Madrid's 1968-69 La Liga record for a perfect start, nine wins from nine, by beating 10-man Real Betis 5-2 at Estadio La Cartuja on Saturday. Lamine Yamal's long-range opener and Rodri's first goal for the club put Hansi Flick's leaders 2-1 up at half-time. Gabriel Jesus and Abde Ezzalzouli then traded goals before Betis midfielder Facundo Bernal was sent off in the 54th minute, and Eric García and Dani Olmo completed the win.
Match facts
- Result: Real Betis 2-5 Barcelona (half-time 1-2)
- Competition: La Liga, Matchday 9
- Venue: Estadio La Cartuja, Seville
- Scorers: Real Betis - Valentín Gómez 27', Ezzalzouli 53'; Barcelona - Lamine Yamal 10', Rodri 41', Gabriel Jesus 51', Eric García 62', Dani Olmo 81'
- Assists: Real Betis - Fornals (27'), Lo Celso (53'); Barcelona - Koundé (10'), Fermín López (41'), Lamine Yamal (51'), Cubarsí (62', 81')
- Red cards: Facundo Bernal (Real Betis) 54', straight red
- Next: Paris Saint-Germain v Barcelona (Champions League), Tuesday 20 October; Real Betis v Feyenoord (Champions League), Wednesday 21 October
How the match unfolded
Yamal struck in the 10th minute, taking Jules Koundé's pass and firing a left-footed shot from outside the box into the top corner. Betis levelled in the 27th minute when Valentín Gómez headed in Pablo Fornals' corner.
Rodri restored the lead in the 41st minute, heading in a Fermín López corner. Shortly before half-time Giovani Lo Celso found the net with a superb strike, but VAR ruled it out for a handball by Cucho Hernández in the build-up, and Betis coach Manuel Pellegrini was booked.
Gabriel Jesus made it 3-1 in the 51st minute, finishing from the centre of the box after Yamal's pass. Two minutes later Lo Celso's through ball sent Abde Ezzalzouli away on the break, and he scored with a right-footed shot from outside the box.
Barcelona felt Fermín had been fouled in the build-up, and in the scuffle that followed Bernal grabbed Yamal and made a head-butting movement towards him. Referee Ricardo de Burgos Bengoetxea sent the Betis midfielder off for violent conduct in the 54th minute, and Yamal was booked moments later.
Barcelona made the extra man count. Flick sent on Olmo and Anthony Gordon in the 62nd minute, and in the same minute Pau Cubarsí headed on a free-kick for half-time substitute Eric García to score from close range.
After Álvaro Valles had saved from Olmo and Gordon, Gabriel Jesus went off injured and was replaced by Gavi. Moments later, in the 81st minute, Olmo scored the fifth with a right-footed shot from outside the box after Cubarsí's pass.
Record within reach in El Clásico
The win takes Barcelona to 27 points, five clear of Atlético Madrid, whose late 1-0 win at Espanyol earlier on Saturday had cut the gap to two. Flick's side, who beat Getafe 3-0 last weekend, can take the record outright with a 10th straight league win when they host Real Madrid at the Spotify Camp Nou on Sunday 25 October (20:00 UK).
Betis, beaten for the second time in the league this season, stay third on 19 points, one ahead of Real Madrid, who have a game in hand.
What happens next
Barcelona travel to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League on Tuesday (20:00 UK). Betis, who beat Porto 3-2 in the competition last Wednesday, host Feyenoord the following night (20:00 UK).
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