BARCELONA: Lamine Yamal (top) of Barcelona celebrates with team-mate Jules Kounde after scoring against Real Betis during their Copa del Rey last 16 first leg at the Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys.—AFP
BARCELONA: Lamine Yamal (top) of Barcelona celebrates with team-mate Jules Kounde after scoring against Real Betis during their Copa del Rey last 16 first leg at the Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys.—AFP

BARCELONA: Barce­lona’s teenage forward Lamine Yamal was in inspired form, scoring once and making two ass­ists, as they thrashed Real Betis 5-1 on Wednesday to book their spot in the Copa del Rey quarter-finals.

Flying high after their 5-2 demolition of rivals Real Madrid in the Spanish Super Cup final on Sunday, Barc­elona didn’t even need their full arsenal to swat aside fellow La Liga outfit Betis.

Coach Hansi Flick rested several starters such as Robert Lewan­dowski, Marc Casado and Alejandro Balde.

They dominated proceedings from the start and it took three minutes for them to open the scoring with Gavi slotting in a low strike from Dani Olmo’s assist.

Olmo almost extended Barca’s lead with a fine strike from inside the box that hit the post in the 20th minute, before Jules Kou­nde put them 2-0 up in the 27th, firing home a volley from close range after a stunning lobbed pass by Yamal.

Raphinha scored Barca’s third in the 58th minute, netting from a counter-attack started by Yamal.

Substitute Ferran Torres netted the fourth in the 67th minute with a strike from inside the box from an Olmo cross and Yamal scored the fifth from a quick counter-attack in the 75th.

The goal was first ruled out for an offside but the decision was quickly corrected by the VAR.

Brazilian forward Vitor Roque, who is on-loan from Barcelona, scored a consolation for Betis from the penalty spot in the 84th minute.

Gavi said after the game Yamal was the best player in the world after former Barca forward Lionel Messi, and Flick also praised the winger.

“Gavi’s very emotional, so I say also yes (he’s the best),” joked Flick. “You can see it, in great matches you see big talent and he showed it many many times, he’s on a good (path).”

Earlier on Wednesday, Getafe, who finished the game with nine men, beat fourth-tier Pontevedra 1-0 thanks to an early goal scored by Alvaro Rodr­iguez, who was sent off in the 41st minute with a straight red card for punc­h­ing an opponent in the face.

Getafe then had Diego Rico sent off for a second booking in added time.

Leganes fought back to knock Spanish second division leaders Almeria out with a 3-2 victory, while Atletico Madrid dispatched Elche with a 4-0 win.

Published in Dawn, January 17th, 2025

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