Real Betis vs Barcelona: Hattrick hero Ferran Torres lifts Blaugrana over resistant Heliopolitans
FOOTBALL Real Betis vs Barcelona: Hattrick hero Ferran Torres lifts Blaugrana over resistant Heliopolitans

Real Betis vs Barcelona: Hattrick hero Ferran Torres lifts Blaugrana over resistant Heliopolitans

Faruq Ibrahim • 20:41 - 21.01.2024

Ferran Torres scores a hattrick to help Barcelona beat Real Betis and reduce the gap on Real Madrid to seven points.

Barcelona leave it late to blow away Real Betis, scoring two goals in the closing moments of the clash to win 4-2.

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With Real Madrid's win earlier in the day, the Blaugrana needed Maximum points to keep the deficit on the league leaders to within seven points.

Barcelona started authoritatively, and opened a two-goal lead, but let slip. They corrected their missteps, however, and added two late goals to grab maximum points.

How it happened

Barcelona played on the front foot from kick-off and tested the Real Betis backline on multiple occasions. 

They found the opener in the 21st minute when Pedri found Ferran Torres in the box. The Spain international made it two in the 48th minute, rebounding a Lamine Yamal attempted cross that crashed against the crossbar. 

Real Betis started to play with more kick, and in the 56th minute, Isco capitalised on miscommunication between Ronald Araujo and Inaki Pena, burying the ball in the back of the net to pull one back for Betis.  

The former Real Madrid man made it two three minutes later, getting on the end of a beautifully lofted pass by Luis Henrique.

The Blaugrana, however, found their second wind, and in the 90th minute, Joao Felix’s outside-of-the-foot shot restored the lead for the visitors. 

Barcelona were determined to finish with a flourish, and two minutes after Felix's trivela, Torres was played through on goal by Yamal, and the Spaniard finished with aplomb. 

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Barcelona Real Betis LaLiga