Barcelona made an excellent continuation of its season in LaLiga on Saturday. Xavi’s team effortlessly thundered past Real Betis in their own Estadio Olímpico: 5-0. João Félix and João Cancelo scored immediately on their starting debut, while Robert Lewandowski, Ferran Torres (free kick) and Raphinha also got on the scoreboard. Barça takes over the lead from Real Madrid, which can take over again on Sunday against Real Sociedad. Betis are ninth.
Xavi made three changes to Barca, who defeated Osasuna (1-2) ahead of the international break. Portuguese newcomers João Cancelo and João Félix made their debut in the starting line-up (Cancelo had already come on as a substitute), while Ferran Torres started in the starting line-up for the first time this season. Frenkie de Jong played as usual on the left midfield, with Oriol Romeu and Gavi also in that line. Pedri was still missing due to an injury. Joining Betis included ex-Barça defender Marc Bartra and Chadi Riad, who is currently from the Blaugrana is rented, in the team.
João Felix with his ?????????????????????????? ?? The mercenary shows his worth! Barcelona ahead ??#ZiggoSport #LaLiga #BarçaBetis pic.twitter.com/oj0RauzElc
— Ziggo Sport Voetbal (@ZS_Voetbal) September 16, 2023
Luiz Henrique should have given Betis the lead after fifteen minutes, but the right winger shot narrowly wide after his attack on the chest. In the 25th minute, João Félix scored his first goal on behalf of Barcelona. The attacker saw his first attempt half blocked, but was able to pass goalkeeper Rui Silva on the rebound and shoot in from a very difficult angle: 1-0. Seven minutes later, Robert Lewandowski came one-on-one with Rui Silva thanks to a clever cross from João Félix. The Barcelona striker shot in without hesitation: 2-0.
Thanks to a fantastic save from Marc-André ter Stegen, Barcelona also reached halftime with that score. The German goalie had a beautiful reflex on a close-range attempt by Willian José. João Félix saw an offside goal disallowed in the 58th minute, but the score was still 3-0 five minutes later. Ferran Torres curled a free kick low around the wall, leaving Rui Silva without a chance.
WOW! Also ??????~?? ??????????????? stings inside ?? An attack to die for ends in the 5-0 ??#ZiggoSport #LaLiga #BarçaBetis pic.twitter.com/8hkHskzGY9
— Ziggo Sport Voetbal (@ZS_Voetbal) September 16, 2023
Substitute Raphinha was also allowed to share in the celebration. The Brazilian took the ball twenty meters from the goal and placed it low: 4-0. In the 81st minute the second Barcelona debutant also got on the scoreboard. João Cancelo dribbled from the right to the middle, cut down his opponent and was able to find the far corner with his favorite right hand: 5-0.