FC Barcelona have equalled the finest start to a La Liga campaign in Spanish football history following an eventful 5-2 victory over 10-man Real Betis at the Estadio de La Cartuja on Saturday.
The triumph represents manager Hansi Flick’s ninth consecutive league victory – and an 11th across all competitions – matching a 58-year-old top-flight record originally established by Real Madrid during the 1968–69 season. The result preserves Barcelona’s five-point advantage over Atletico Madrid at the summit of the table.
Teenage forward Lamine Yamal produced a commanding performance to open the scoring in the 10th minute, skipping past a defender before curling an effort into the top corner from outside the penalty area.
Real Betis responded through Valentín Gómez, who levelled from close range in the 27th minute. However, Barcelona regained the lead shortly before the interval when midfielder Rodri headed in from a Fermín López corner to register his first goal for the club.
The visitors extended their advantage early in the second half as Gabriel Jesus finished off an assist from Yamal in the 51st minute. Betis reduced the deficit two minutes later when former Barcelona winger Abde Ezzalzouli converted on the counter-attack, but the hosts’ resistance was quickly derailed when midfielder Facundo Bernal was shown a straight red card following a VAR review for an off-the-ball incident involving Yamal.
Capitalising on their numerical advantage, Barcelona took control of the closing stages, with Eric García striking in the 62nd minute before substitute Dani Olmo sealed the 5-2 victory nine minutes from time.
