Barcelona maintained their perfect La Liga record on Saturday, thrashing Real Betis 5-2 in Seville to secure their ninth consecutive league victory.
Lamine Yamal opened the scoring in the 10th minute with a brilliant curling shot from the edge of the box. Betis equalized through a Valentin Gomez header in the 27th minute but Spain midfielder Rodri restored Barcelona's lead shortly before halftime with a header from a Fermin Lopez corner.
The visitors took full control after the break. Gabriel Jesus made it 3-1 in the 51st minute with tapping in a cross from Yamal. Although Ez Abde pulled one back for Betis a minute later and the hosts were quickly reduced to 10 men when Facundo Bernal received a straight red card for headbutting Yamal during an altercation.
Capitalizing on the numerical advantage, Eric Garcia made it 4-2 in the 63rd minute after Pau Cubarsi set up a loose ball inside the box. Substitute Dani Olmo completed the scoring in the 81st minute with a fine strike into the top corner.
The victory takes leader Barcelona to 27 points five ahead of second-placed Atletico Madrid secured a late 1-0 win at Espanyol courtesy of an 89th-minute strike from Alex Baena. Real Betis remain third with 19 points while fourth-placed Real Madrid sit on 18 points ahead of their match against Sevilla on Sunday.
