Real Betis 2-4 Barcelona: Ferran Torres hat-trick keeps La Liga champions in touch with leaders
Ferran #Ferran
A treble against Real Betis saw Ferran Torres take his tally to seven goals in La Liga this season
Ferran Torres netted a clinical hat-trick as Barcelona stayed in touch with La Liga’s top two with victory over a spirited Real Betis.
Torres scored with two finishes from close range in the 21st and 48th minutes before Betis fought back.
Isco struck twice in three minutes to stun Xavi’s third-placed side.
But Joao Felix’s stylish 90th-minute strike put Barca ahead, before Torres claimed his third to seal the success when he broke clear to fire home.
Barcelona remain seven points adrift of La Liga leaders Real Madrid, although that could increase to eight should Girona return to the summit on Sunday evening with victory over Sevilla.
More to follow.
Line-upsReal Betis
Formation 4-2-3-1
13Dantas da Silva
2Bellerín6Pezzella19Papastathopoulos20da Silva Santos
4Cardoso21Roca
11Rosa da Silva22Isco38Diao
12Da Silva
Substitutes
Barcelona
Formation 4-3-3
13Peña Sotorres
23Koundé4Araújo33Cubarsí3Balde
21F de Jong22Gündogan8Pedri
27Yamal9Lewandowski7F Torres
Substitutes
Referee:Jesús Gil Manzano
Attendance:53,288
Live Text
Match ends, Real Betis 2, Barcelona 4.
Second Half ends, Real Betis 2, Barcelona 4.
Corner, Barcelona. Conceded by Abner.
Vitor Roque (Barcelona) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Foul by Vitor Roque (Barcelona).
Sergi Altimira (Real Betis) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Delay in match (Barcelona).
Attempt blocked. João Félix (Barcelona) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Lamine Yamal.
Corner, Real Betis. Conceded by Ilkay Gündogan.
Goal! Real Betis 2, Barcelona 4. Ferran Torres (Barcelona) right footed shot from the right side of the box to the centre of the goal. Assisted by Lamine Yamal with a through ball following a fast break.
Attempt missed. Luiz Henrique (Real Betis) header from the left side of the six yard box misses to the right. Assisted by Nabil Fekir with a cross following a corner.
Corner, Real Betis. Conceded by Lamine Yamal.
Goal! Real Betis 2, Barcelona 3. João Félix (Barcelona) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Ferran Torres.
Offside, Real Betis. Borja Iglesias is caught offside.
João Félix (Barcelona) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Héctor Bellerín (Real Betis).
Attempt blocked. Luiz Henrique (Real Betis) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Nabil Fekir.
Offside, Real Betis. Nabil Fekir is caught offside.
Foul by Fermín López (Barcelona).