Barcelona extended their lead at the top of La Liga to four points, but Real Betis gave last season’s champions a late scare.
Published December 6, 2025
Ferran Torres scored a hat-trick in the first half as Barcelona chased Real Betis to a 5-3 victory in La Liga and the Champions League, easing their woes on the road.
The Spanish forward scored two goals in the first 13 minutes of Saturday’s match, before the Seville-based hosts took the lead with a goal from former Manchester United winger Anthony.
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Barça’s third goal came in the 31st minute when Rooney Bulge scored from just outside the box.
Torres, who scored twice early in the game with close-range finishes and the second with a fine volley, completed his hat-trick with a shot from outside the box in the 40th minute.
Lamine Yamal appeared to have decided the match from the penalty spot in the 59th minute after Barça were awarded a controversial kick for handball.
Anthony’s former Old Trafford teammate, Manchester United loanee Marcus Rashford, hit a drive from the edge of the box that hit Marc Bartra in the arm. Betis protested that the man’s arm was close to his body and that he was hit first, but the referee was convinced thanks to VAR intervention.
Fernando Llorente pulled one back for Betis with five minutes remaining, and Cucho Hernández converted a penalty just before the end of time, so Betis had a long way to go to catch up.
The next six minutes of stoppage time were enough for Betis to close out the game, but it wasn’t enough to deny Barça that moment, increasing their lead to four points over Real Madrid, who play Celta Vigo on Sunday.
Torres’ rise from a bench player to Hansi Flick’s most used striker has been remarkable. The forward has made more starts than Robert Lewandowski, who is 37 years old and has seen his playing time decline.
Torres leads Barcelona’s scoring with 13 goals, 11 of which came in La Liga. Only Real Madrid’s Kylian Mbappé has scored more goals in the domestic league, with 16.
Lewandowski and Rafinha never left the Barcelona bench. This will give both players a rest in preparation for Tuesday’s Champions League match, when Barcelona face Eintracht Frankfurt.
Meanwhile, Fermin López returned midway through the second half after the Barcelona midfielder missed two games with a foot injury.
Elsewhere, goals from Tahon Buchanan and Georges Mikautadze helped Villarreal beat Getafe 2-0, keeping them in third place, one point behind Madrid.
Alaves defeated Real Sociedad 1-0 in the Basque Country derby.
