Barcelona equalled the best start to a LaLiga season in history by claiming a ninth successive win in a fiery 5-2 win over 10-man Real Betis.
Match Report:
Lamine Yamal inspired the victory, which saw Hansi Flick's side match a record set by Real Madrid back in the 1968-69 season.
Yamal scored a brilliant opener and set up Gabriel Jesus for the third, with Rodri netting his first for Barca and Eric García and Dani Olmo also on target.
Betis went into the match in third place and scored through Valentín Gómez and Abde Ezzalzouli but, moments after the latter had pulled it back to 3-2, Facundo Bernal was shown a red card for tangling with Yamal.
The result was the ideal way to kick off a big week for Barça, who play Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League before taking on Madrid in the league next weekend.
Yamal needed less than 10 minutes to make his mark, producing a brilliant turn on the edge of the area and an even better finish, curling a 20-yard shot into the top corner.
Barça dominated possession but Betis drew level in the 27th minute when the visitors failed to clear a corner and Gómez powerfully headed in Pablo Fornals' cross.
Yamal played in Karim Adeyemi, who was denied by a strong hand from Álvaro Valles, while Héctor Bellerín saw his shot well saved by Joan García at the other end.
Barça went back in front four minutes before the break from a corner, with Rodri capitalising on hesitation from Valles, but Betis were furious to see an apparent equaliser ruled out only two minutes later.
Giovani Lo Celso brilliantly found the top corner with a left-foot volley on the spin from outside the box but it was disallowed for a handball in the build-up.
Chances continued to flow after the break and, moments after Jesus saw a first-time finish from a Yamal cross ruled out for a marginal offside, the same two players combined for a goal that did count.
Only a minute later Ezzalzouli sprang the offside trap to reduce the arrears but a melee in the aftermath ended with Bernal being shown a red card for moving his head towards Yamal, who fell to the ground.
The young Spain star was booked for his role in the confrontation but it was a costly blow for Betis and Barça restored their two-goal advantage in the 62nd minute when Pau Cubarsí beat the flailing Valles to a cross and substitute Garcia tapped in.
Anthony Gordon, also on as a replacement, came close to extending the lead before Olmo did add a fifth in the 81st minute.
Match Events
10' GOAL! Yamal races up the park before turning inside to thump a stunning finish! Betis 0-1 Barcelona
27' GOAL! Valentín Gómez rises highest to power home the cross by Pablo Fornals! Betis 1-1 Barcelona
41' GOAL! Rodri scores his first goal for the club with an easy header! Betis 1-2 Barcelona
51' GOAL! Fermin finds Yamal, who sets up Jesus to slide the ball home! Betis 1-3 Barcelona
53' GOAL! Ezzalzouli beats the Barca offside trap to slide the finish into the net! Betis 2-3 Barcelona
62' GOAL! Cubarsi beats Valles to a loose ball and Garcia taps into an empty net! Betis 2-4 Barcelona
81' GOAL! Dani Olmo slides the finish over the Real Betis goalkeeper for the fifth! Betis 2-5 Barcelona
Line-ups
Betis XI: Bellerin, D.Llorente, Ceballos, Lo Celso, Álvaro Valles, Cucho Hernández, Fornals, Fran García, Abde Ezzalzouli, Valentín Gómez, Facundo Bernal
Subs: Isco, Bartra, Roca, Álvaro Fidalgo, Diego Conde, Parrott, Riquelme, Antony, Natan, Nelson Deossa, Ángel Ortiz, José Antonio Morante
Barcelona XI: Jesus, Rodri, Kounde, Adeyemi, Pedri, Joan García, Fermín López, Yamal, Gerard Martín, Cubarsi, Xavi Espart
Subs: Szczesny, Cancelo, D. Livaković, Olmo, De Jong, Raphinha, Eric Garcia, Gordon, Balde, Gavi, Brian Fariñas, Bernal
Elborizo
133
let's welcome our captain back💙❤️💙❤️
AFerBIxM4906
92
How many of us saw Gabriel Jesus reaction of Lamine Yamal goal.
Yungswag20
79
He’s the best player in the world
AFerBIxM4906
63
Alert 🚨 Next stop is at santiago bernabéu.
dougiefresh
59
BEST PLAYER IN THE WORLD AT NINETEEN YEARS OLD LAMINE YAMAL ⚽️🎯💎🌟🔥💯✅️
Ignatius Nkrumah
43
The madrid fans lamenting about the disallowed goal...Go back and go and check Fermin's disallowed goal last season against Real Madrid
Barbara31
33
GIF link Here: https://www.matchgif.com/v2/live/matchGifs?match_id=54493285&language=en
RAISHRI
31
those madrid fans who are crying here about the disallowed goal of lo celso should also remember how firmin's banger in el classico was disallowed due to hand ball. The same rule will apply here too...now don't cry here hypocrites.
livingstoneDlam
14
Flick as dine a great job for this club. rivals but not enemies, El Classico is coming next. It is time for fire for fire 🔥
galaticos
10
just give him the ballon d'or. he is the only serious player on earth.