Ferran Torres fired a superb hat-trick, teenage sensation Lamine Yamal scored from the spot, and young winger Roony Bardghji dazzled on a rare start as Barcelona stormed to a thrilling 5-3 comeback victory over Real Betis in La Liga on Saturday.
The explosive win in Seville lifts Barça four points clear of Real Madrid, who host Celta Vigo on Sunday.
Once considered a rotation player, Torres has now become one of Hansi Flick’s most trusted forwards, making more starts than veteran Robert Lewandowski.
The 24-year-old leads Barcelona’s scoring charts with 13 goals in all competitions, 11 coming in LaLiga, trailing only Real Madrid’s Kylian Mbappé in the league’s scoring race.
Bardghji, making just his third start since arriving from Copenhagen in the summer, made quite the impact.
The 20-year-old’s quick feet and confident dribbling constantly troubled Betis’ defence. He set up Torres for the second goal with a precise cross before smashing home Barça’s third with a low drive inside the box.
With Lewandowski and Raphinha unused substitutes, both will remain fresh ahead of Tuesday’s Champions League clash at home to Eintracht Frankfurt.
Betis took a surprise lead inside six minutes through Anthony, but Barcelona hit back instantly. Jules Koundé assisted Torres for his first before the Spain international added a spectacular volley just moments later.
He completed his treble in the 40th minute with a long-range strike that took a wicked deflection.
In a notable tactical twist, prodigy Yamal was deployed centrally rather than his usual wide-right role.
The 17-year-old looked comfortable in his new position, linking play decisively and converting a second-half penalty after Marcus Rashford’s strike struck Marc Bartra’s hand.
Betis reduced the deficit late on with goals from Diego Llorente and a Cucho Hernández penalty caused by a foul from Koundé. Rashford nearly added a sixth for Barça in stoppage time but dragged his one-on-one chance wide.
The defeat ends an impressive unbeaten streak for Manuel Pellegrini’s side, who had beaten Sevilla in the previous derby and gone eight games without losing.
Betis could slip to sixth if Espanyol collect a point against Rayo Vallecano on Sunday.
Barcelona also welcomed back Fermín López from injury, with the midfielder making an appearance in the second half.
