Barcelona began 2025 in perfect form as they made their way to the quarter-finals of the Copa del Rey with a dominant 5-1 victory over Real Betis. The team under Hansi Flick showcased their strong momentum after lifting the Supercopa just days earlier. Their performance left Betis with little chance of fighting back, as Barcelona took an early lead, thanks to goals from Gavi and Koundé within the first 30 minutes. The early strikes set the tone, leaving the Betis side struggling to recover. In the second half, Raphinha, Ferran Torres, and Lamine Yamal added further goals to seal the win.
Barcelona took the lead in the first half when Gavi scored in the 3rd minute, following a clearance from Dani Olmo. The opening goal quickly put the pressure on Betis, who were already at a disadvantage. In the first 8 minutes, Betis had a chance to respond, but a brilliant save by the Barcelona goalkeeper, Inaki Peña, denied them a close-range shot from Olmo. Betis attempted to bounce back, but their early struggles were evident when they failed to capitalize on a rebound from Isco that was headed high by Juanmi in a promising chance for the equalizer.
By the 20th minute, Betis was in even deeper trouble after an injury to Aitor Ruibal, who twisted his ankle after an awkward collision with a pass from Gerard Martin. The situation worsened for Betis, who were unable to recover from a series of missed opportunities. Barcelona's domination continued, with Koundé scoring the second goal after a brilliant cross from Lamine Yamal, putting the Catalans up 2-0.
Despite Betis’ early attempts to regain control, Barcelona’s defense stood firm. In the final moments of the first half, Betis had a chance to get back into the match but were denied by an impressive save from Peña, who stopped a goal-bound shot from Vitor Roque. In the closing stages of the first half, Koundé scored again, but the goal was disallowed for a marginal offside.
The second half saw further goals from Barcelona, with Raphinha and Ferran Torres finding the net to stretch the lead to 4-0. Lamine Yamal capped off a brilliant team performance by scoring the final goal, making it 5-1. Betis, despite their best efforts, were unable to challenge the overwhelming strength of Barcelona, whose performance displayed their ongoing momentum and sharpness.
The game highlighted Barcelona’s tactical depth, as Flick made several changes to the lineup from their Supercopa victory just three days earlier. Players like Inaki Peña, Araujo, and Olmo stepped up in key moments. In contrast, Betis struggled with the absence of key players such as Giovani Lo Celso, and their performance failed to live up to the expectations. The match ended as a clear statement of Barcelona's dominance in the competition, while Betis’ hopes were dashed by their inability to find their rhythm.
The content is relevant click here
.