Barcelona continued their remarkable run of form with an entertaining victory over Real Betis, maintaining their perfect record of 12 wins from 12 official matches. However, Hansi Flick’s side had to survive a fierce challenge at La Cartuja in a match filled with goals, controversy, heated exchanges and a decisive red card.
The encounter brought together two teams enjoying excellent form, and it delivered plenty of drama. Real Betis supporters were left furious after Giovani Lo Celso’s stunning goal was ruled out for a handball earlier in the move, which would have brought the hosts level at 2-2. Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal once again proved decisive, although the young star left the pitch to a chorus of boos after becoming involved in the incident that led to Facundo Bernal’s dismissal.
For Flick, it was arguably Barcelona’s toughest test of the season so far. Yet, despite the controversy, the Catalan giants found a way to secure another important victory.
Lamine Yamal Sets the Tone
Barcelona wasted little time making their presence felt. Before the 10-minute mark, Yamal produced a moment of individual brilliance to give the visitors the lead.
Receiving the ball out wide, the teenager used a sharp change of direction to get past Bernal before unleashing a superb left-footed strike into the top corner of Álvaro Valles’ goal. It was a finish that underlined why Yamal continues to attract so much attention.
Betis responded positively rather than allowing the early setback to derail their plans. The hosts gradually found their rhythm, with Abde Ezzalzouli causing problems down the flank.
Their persistence paid off when a corner led to the equaliser. After the initial clearance, Pablo Fornals delivered an excellent cross into the penalty area, allowing Valentín Gómez to rise above the defence and head home.
The goal brought La Cartuja to life, and the match quickly developed into an open contest, with both sides creating dangerous opportunities.
Barcelona nearly regained the lead when Yamal played a fine pass into Adeyemi’s path, but Valles stood firm in the one-on-one situation. Betis responded through Héctor Bellerín, whose attempt from a Fornals pass was brilliantly stopped by Joan García.
Neither team appeared willing to settle for a draw, setting the stage for a dramatic conclusion to the first half.
Late First-Half Drama and VAR Controversy
Barcelona restored their advantage shortly before the break through Rodri, who rose to meet Fermín López’s corner and directed a header past Valles.
Betis, however, refused to surrender. Just minutes later, Lo Celso produced a spectacular strike from outside the box that appeared to bring the hosts level once again.
The celebrations were short-lived.
Following a VAR review, referee Ricardo de Burgos Bengoetxea ruled out the goal because Cucho Hernández had handled the ball earlier in the attacking move. The decision sparked furious protests from the Betis players and coaching staff, with Diego Llorente and manager Manuel Pellegrini receiving yellow cards.
For the home supporters, it was a painful decision that changed the mood inside the stadium. For Barcelona, it meant heading into the interval with their narrow advantage intact.
The incident is likely to remain a major talking point, particularly among Betis fans who felt the handball occurred too far before the goal to justify its cancellation.
Barcelona Strike Again After the Break
Flick’s players returned from the interval with the same attacking intent they had shown throughout the first half.
Within seconds, Gabriel Jesus came close to scoring after receiving a pass from Adeyemi. Fermín then forced another excellent save from Valles as Barcelona pushed to extend their lead.
The visitors eventually found the net through Gabriel Jesus after Yamal supplied the assist, but the effort was ruled out for offside.
The Brazilian did not have to wait long for another opportunity. A minute later, he finished another move created by Yamal to put Barcelona 3-1 ahead.
Betis immediately protested, claiming that Fermín had committed a foul earlier in the build-up. Their frustration increased when Abde finished a counterattack to reduce the deficit to 3-2, with Barcelona again unhappy about the physical challenge on Fermín during the move.
The match then descended into chaos.
While Fermín was on the ground, Valles pulled him roughly to his feet, prompting Yamal to intervene in defence of his teammate. Bernal became involved in the confrontation and clashed heads with Yamal, leaving the referee with little choice but to dismiss the Betis midfielder.
The red card proved decisive. With around half an hour remaining, the hosts suddenly faced the daunting task of trying to recover against an opponent already leading by one goal.
Eric García and Dani Olmo Seal the Win
Barcelona wasted little time taking advantage of their numerical superiority.
Eric García scored the fourth goal with a header after Pau Cubarsí had also connected with the ball in the aerial move, giving the visitors breathing room and dealing a significant blow to Betis’ hopes of mounting another comeback.
The goal effectively ended the contest as a balanced encounter. With the home side down to 10 players, Barcelona found more space and began to control proceedings with greater comfort.
Both managers eventually turned their attention to the demanding schedule ahead, making substitutions to protect key players before their upcoming European commitments.
Raphinha also received some minutes as he continued his return from injury after featuring for Brazil during the international break.
Barcelona’s only significant concern came when Eric García was forced off with an injury, an unwelcome development for Flick ahead of a crucial week.
There was still time for Dani Olmo to add a fifth goal, firing home from outside the penalty area to complete the scoring and underline Barcelona’s attacking strength.
Barcelona Face a Crucial Week
The victory keeps Barcelona’s extraordinary winning run alive, but the result also highlights the challenges awaiting Flick’s team as the season intensifies.
Their trip to La Cartuja was particularly demanding because Betis had not lost a LaLiga home match at the stadium since December 6, 2025, when Barcelona had beaten them 5-3. The hosts had gone 15 league matches without a home defeat since then.
Flick selected a strong starting lineup despite the busy schedule, while Pellegrini opted to rest several important players, including Isco, Natan, Deossa and Antony.
Barcelona now face an even tougher examination, with a Champions League trip to Paris Saint-Germain followed by the highly anticipated El Clásico against Real Madrid at Camp Nou.
Their perfect record provides plenty of confidence, but the coming days will offer a clearer indication of just how far this Barcelona side can go.
For now, Flick’s team have passed another difficult test. They showed their attacking quality, resilience and ability to exploit key moments, even as the match threatened to spiral out of control.
Betis will feel aggrieved by the disallowed goal and the circumstances surrounding Bernal’s dismissal, but Barcelona leave La Cartuja with another victory and their winning streak intact.
With PSG and Real Madrid waiting, the biggest tests may still be ahead. If this performance is any indication, however, Barcelona will approach both encounters believing they can beat anyone.