Barcelona breeze past Betis as Lamine Yamal shines in Copa del Rey
Just days after playing a pivotal role in Barcelona's Supercopa de España triumph against Real Madrid, the 17-year-old winger once again showcased his brilliance, spearheading the Catalan side’s emphatic win in a different competition.
Lamine Yamal delivered another dazzling performance as Barcelona secured a dominant 5-0 victory over Real Betis at the Estadi Olímpic de Montjuïc on Wednesday, booking their place in the quarter-finals of the Copa del Rey.
Just days after playing a pivotal role in Barcelona's Supercopa de España triumph against Real Madrid, the 17-year-old winger once again showcased his brilliance, spearheading the Catalan side's emphatic win in a different competition.
Barcelona wasted no time asserting their authority, with Gavi opening the scoring in just the third minute. Receiving a precise pass from Dani Olmo, the midfielder slotted home but chose not to celebrate out of respect for Betis, where he spent his formative years.
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The early goal set the tone for a relentless Barcelona display, as Hansi Flick's side showed no signs of complacency despite recently lifting silverware.
Yamal, at the heart of Barcelona's attacking prowess, orchestrated much of the action. His sublime assist set up Jules Koundé for the second goal, with a deft chipped pass perfectly meeting the Frenchman's run into the box.
In the 58th minute, Yamal initiated a blistering counter-attack that culminated in Raphinha's goal, the Brazilian slotting home Barcelona's third to put the result beyond doubt.
Not content with his contributions, Yamal added his name to the scoresheet late on, capitalising on a well-timed pass from Fermín López to complete the rout. His electric display included another disallowed goal and an additional assist ruled out for offside, underlining his relentless impact.
Ferran Torres also joined the scoresheet, netting Barcelona's fourth goal before Yamal sealed the victory. The emphatic win not only highlighted the Catalan side's attacking depth but also reinforced their strong start under Flick's management.
With this result, Barcelona advance to the quarter-finals of the Copa del Rey. Their rivals Real Madrid will take on Celta Vigo on 16 january in a bid to join them in the next stage.
