Every now and then, you watch a football match that just refuses to follow any script. That’s exactly what we got at La Cartuja, where FC Barcelona and Real Betis played out an absolute thriller. Coming in with high morale after a big win against Atlético, Barça faced a Betis side on an eight-game unbeaten streak. What followed was a rollercoaster of goals, drama, and a stunning individual performance that ended in a wild 3-5 victory for Barça.
Key Highlights
- ✓ Ferran Torres was the hero for Barcelona, scoring a magnificent hat-trick.
- ✓ Surprise starter Roony Bardghji scored his incredible first goal for the club.
- ✓ The final score was a chaotic 3-5, with Betis mounting a spirited late comeback.
- ✓ Lamine Yamal also got on the scoresheet with a second-half penalty after a VAR review.
- ✓ Hansi Flick's tactical decisions, like playing Lamine as a mediapunta, paid off brilliantly.
An Absolutely Electric First Half
Things got off to a bumpy start for the visitors. Just six minutes in, Betis struck first. The ever-dangerous Abde Ezzalzouli got the better of Jules Koundé down the left flank, sent in a cross that Fornals redirected, and after a touch from Balde, Antony was there to poke it home. It looked like a clear offside, but Koundé had failed to get back into position, playing everyone on. Just like that, it was 1-0 to Betis, and you could feel the home crowd buzzing.
But if you thought Barça would crumble, you were sorely mistaken. The response was not just swift; it was devastating. Only five minutes later, in the 11th minute, Koundé made amends by driving forward and crossing into the box, where Ferran Torres finished with a sharp first-time shot to make it 1-1. Before Betis could even catch their breath, it happened again. In the 13th minute, a near-identical play, this time with a sensational cross from Roony Bardghji, found Ferran for a perfect volley. In the blink of an eye, the score was 1-2, and Ferran had his tenth league goal.
The story of the first half didn't end there. In the 31st minute, it was Roony's turn for a moment he'll never forget. After some brilliant dribbling by captain Pedri on the edge of the box, he found the young winger. Roony took on his man and unleashed a thunderous right-footed shot—despite being a lefty—that flew into the net like a rocket. It was his very first goal in a Barça shirt, and his celebration showed just how much it meant. The dream half was capped off in the 39th minute when Pedri once again found Ferran in space, who fired from outside the area to complete a stunning first-half hat-trick, making it 1-4 at the break.
Flick's Tactical Gambles Pay Off
You have to give credit where it's due: Hansi Flick made some bold calls with his starting eleven, and they worked to perfection. The biggest surprise was the inclusion of Roony Bardghji, who hadn't seen a single minute in the previous five matches. Flick had mentioned in his pre-match comments that Roony "deserves to play" based on his training performances, and boy, did the kid deliver.
Another key tactical tweak was playing Lamine Yamal in the mediapunta role, just behind the striker. While Roony was initially expected there, the report noted that putting Lamine in that central position "has more logic." This move unleashed Lamine, allowing him to connect beautifully with Pedri and dictate the flow of the attack. He was everywhere, even making a crucial defensive intervention to rob Fornals on a dangerous counter-attack, showing his commitment to the role.
Flick's attack was fluid and deadly. With Ferran as a clinical '9', Roony exploding on the wing, and Lamine orchestrating from the middle, Betis simply couldn't handle the movement and creativity. It was a tactical masterclass that saw Barça race to a seemingly insurmountable lead, all thanks to a coach willing to trust his players and make surprising, yet effective, decisions.
Second Half Chaos and a Spirited Fightback
The second half kicked off with immediate drama. Marcus Rashford had two quick shots blocked in the box, and Alejandro Balde had to be substituted due to a thigh knock he picked up early on. But the biggest moment came around the 58th minute. A powerful shot from Rashford was blocked by former Barça defender Marc Bartra. The referee initially waved play on, but VAR intervened. After a review, it was determined that Bartra's raised hand, despite a deflection off his body, constituted a penalty.
Lamine Yamal stepped up to the spot and coolly sent the keeper the wrong way with a soft left-footed shot, making it 1-5. At that point, the game should have been over. However, as the commentators noted, Barça "doesn't know how to put a game to sleep." They continued to push for more goals, leaving themselves exposed at the back, and Betis, full of pride, began to claw their way back into the match.
The comeback began in the 85th minute when Diego Llorente scored from close range following a corner. Then, in the 90th minute, Abde skillfully drew a clumsy challenge from Koundé in the box, earning a penalty. Cucho Hernández made no mistake from the spot, pulling the score back to 3-5. With six minutes of added time announced, what seemed like a comfortable victory suddenly felt incredibly tense. Betis pushed for an improbable equalizer, but Barça just managed to hold on for a chaotic, nerve-wracking, and ultimately thrilling win.
Conclusion
What a game. It was a perfect storm of attacking brilliance, tactical ingenuity, and late-game drama. Ferran Torres was simply unstoppable with his hat-trick, while Roony Bardghji's dream debut goal was a moment of pure joy. Flick's tactical choices were vindicated, but the shaky defensive display in the final 15 minutes shows there's still work to be done. Ultimately, it was an eight-goal spectacle that delivered three massive points for Barça and reminded everyone just how unpredictable and wonderful football can be.
