Barcelona matches Real Madrid’s historic start with five-goal victory at Real Betis
FC Barcelona secured a 5-2 victory against Real Betis at La Cartuja stadium on Saturday, October 17, 2026, matching the best start in the championship set by Real Madrid during the 1968-69 season. Hansi Flick’s squad overcame an early deficit to claim their latest three points, pushing their domestic campaign record ahead of next week’s El Clásico at the Spotify Camp Nou.
Lamine Yamal and Rodri strike as Barcelona rallies in Seville
Real Betis entered the fixture having won every home match this season, but Barcelona dismantled that record with a relentless offensive display. Lamine Yamal opened the scoring for the visitors before the 10-minute mark with a curling left-footed strike from the edge of the penalty area past goalkeeper Álvaro Valles, coming while Barcelona temporarily played with ten men due to an injury treatment for Gerard Martín. Real Betis responded before the half-hour mark when Valentín Gómez equalized following an assist by Fornals. Rodri restored Barcelona’s advantage before halftime with a header from a corner kick by Fermín. A late first-half long-range goal by Lo Celso for Real Betis was disallowed following a VAR review for a handball by Cucho Hernández in the buildup, a decision that drew protests and a yellow card for Pellegrini.
Barcelona committed 11 fouls against Real Betis and received only 2 yellow cards.Real Madrid committed just 8 fouls against Villarreal and received 5 yellow cards and a red card.11 fouls = 2 yellow cards.8 fouls = 5 yellow cards and a red card.This can’t be real. pic.twitter.com/Uh2JbFy6Dr
Gabriel Jesús and Dani Olmo seal the points amid second-half chaos
The second half delivered an exchange of goals and physical confrontations. Gabriel Jesús scored Barcelona’s third after having an earlier effort ruled out for offside. Real Betis answered immediately through Ez Abde to make it 2-3, a sequence that sparked an on-field altercation involving Lamine Yamal and Facundo Bernal after Valles attempted to lift Fermín from the turf. The confrontation resulted in a red card for Bernal and a yellow card for Lamine Yamal, reducing Betis to ten men. Barcelona capitalized on the numerical advantage when Eric García scored after Cubarsí headed away a ball punched by Valles following a free-kick by Lamine Yamal. Despite heavy rain making conditions difficult in Seville, Dani Olmo secured the 5-2 final scoreline with a low drive from the top of the box with little less than ten minutes remaining.
Injury concerns mount for Hansi Flick ahead of Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid
The comprehensive victory came at a significant physical cost for the visiting side. Eric García sustained a muscular injury during the second-half proceedings. The setback creates a defensive dilemma for Flick as his squad prepares for upcoming fixtures against Paris Saint-Germain and the clash against the eternal rival.
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