Barcelona extended their lead at the top of La Liga to four points after a thrilling 5-3 win over Real Betis at the Benito Villamarín Stadium. Ferran Torres starred for the defending champions, netting a first-half hat-trick to silence the home crowd before Betis staged a late fightback.

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Early Drama as Betis Takes the Lead

The match got off to an electrifying start as Real Betis struck first. Former Manchester United winger Antony opened the scoring, giving the Seville-based side an early advantage. However, Barcelona quickly responded through Ferran Torres, who scored twice in the opening 13 minutes to turn the match in Barcelona’s favor.

Torres’ first goal came from a clinical close-range finish, while the second was a perfectly executed volley, showcasing his composure and sharpness in front of goal.

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Torres Completes Hat-Trick Before Half-Time

Barcelona’s dominance continued as Roony Bardghji slid home the team’s third goal in the 31st minute from just inside the box. Torres then completed his first-half hat-trick in the 40th minute with a deflected effort from outside the penalty area, cementing his status as Barcelona’s in-form striker.

The performance highlighted Torres’ remarkable rise under manager Hansi Flick, as he has grown from a squad rotation player to Barcelona’s most-utilized forward, even surpassing veteran Robert Lewandowski in starting appearances.

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Controversial Penalty Extends Barcelona Lead

In the second half, Lamine Yamal appeared to seal the win with a penalty in the 59th minute. Barcelona were awarded the spot-kick after Marcus Rashford’s shot from the edge of the box struck Marc Bartra’s arm. Betis protested, arguing the arm was naturally positioned, but the referee upheld the decision following a VAR review.

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Betis Late Rally Falls Short

Despite Barcelona’s comfortable lead, Betis refused to go quietly. Fernando Llorente scored with five minutes remaining, followed by Cucho Hernandez converting a last-minute penalty to make it 5-3. Six minutes of added time were insufficient for the hosts to mount a comeback, leaving Barcelona with a hard-fought victory and a four-point lead over Real Madrid, who face Celta Vigo on Sunday.

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Ferran Torres Shines as Barcelona’s Top Scorer

Torres’ performance further solidified his role as Barcelona’s leading scorer this season, with 13 goals across all competitions, 11 in La Liga. Only Kylian Mbappe of Real Madrid has more domestic league goals, with 16.

Lewandowski and Raphinha remained on the bench, ensuring they are fresh for Barcelona’s upcoming Champions League clash against Eintracht Frankfurt on Tuesday. Fermín Lopez returned as a second-half substitute after recovering from a leg injury, bolstering Barcelona’s midfield options.

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Other La Liga Highlights

• Villarreal 2-0 Getafe: Tajon Buchanan and Georges Mikautadze scored to maintain Villarreal’s third-place standing, one point behind Real Madrid.
• Alaves 1-0 Real Sociedad: Alaves pulled off an upset in the Basque Country regional derby.