Barcelona are one win away from making LaLiga history as Hansi Flick’s side have matched Real Madrid’s record of nine consecutive wins to start a league season after thrashing Real Betis 5-2.
FC Barcelona have now won all nine of their league games this season in Seville, tying the best opening run in LaLiga history; last Real Madrid set that mark in 1968-69.
Lamine Yamal got things moving after ten minutes as Jules Koundé found him, and he curled a shot into the net.
Betis’ Valentín Gómez headed in a Pablo Fornals cross around the half-hour to make it 1-1.
Barcelona went back ahead just before half-time with a corner reached Rodri, who scored his first goal for the club.
Gabriel Jesus made it 3-1 soon after the restart from Yamal’s pass back across the box.
Betis’ Abde Ezzalzouli, who used to play for Barcelona, hit back almost immediately, ran onto a ball just on the right side of the offside line and scored against his old team.
Then Betis midfielder Facundo Bernal was shown a red card after a clash with Yamal, who was booked as well.
Playing against ten men, Barcelona took control when Eric García came off the bench and finished a cross from Pau Cubarsí in the 62nd minute.
A substitute Dani Olmo also scored the fifth goal in the 81st minute.
Five players scored for Barcelona, and Flick’s changes changed two of the goals.
The win also stretches their run to 11 straight victories in all competitions.
Rodri was happy with the result but did not play down the problems, saying Barcelona let in too many goals and have to defend better, adding that what Yamal is doing at the moment is exceptional.
Betis lost, but they were competitive for long stretches and scored twice against Barca but still managed to finish in the top three.
Barcelona are now five points clear and ready to host Real Madrid in El Clásico next weekend. A win in that game would give them a tenth straight league victory and a new record.
