Barcelona crushes Betis by the score of 5-0.

recent arrivals Barcelona defeated Real Betis 5-0 on Saturday in La Liga, with goals from Joao Felix and Joao Cancelo, who both scored their first goals for the team.

 

After goals from Robert Lewandowski, Ferran Torres, and Raphinha put Barca ahead, Portugal's Felix opened the score, and Cancelo completed the demolition with a superb solo effort.

With their convincing win, Barca is now one point ahead of Real Madrid, their rivals, who host Real Sociedad on Sunday.

Barca played with a vibrancy they lacked at times last season, even as they lifted LaLiga, warming up for their Champions League opener Tuesday against Royal Antwerp.

Felix was at the core of it with an impressive display after Xavi handed him and compatriot Joao Cancelo their first starts for the club following loan moves on deadline day and both quickly impressed the home fans.

Betis, lining up with a back four composed only of former Barca players, played with attacking intent, unlike many other teams who will visit the temporary Olympic Stadium home of the Spanish champions.

Luiz Henrique sent a rasping effort across the face of goal and Ayoze Perez blasted into the side netting as Manuel Pellegrini's side started well.

However three of Barca's summer signings combined to put the hosts ahead after 25 minutes.

Cancelo won the ball back with a thumping tackle and Oriol Romeo dropped a cross into the area for Felix.

The on-loan Atletico Madrid forward controlled the ball, knocked it past goalkeeper Rui Silva and then squeezed home clinically from a tight angle.

Lewandowski doubled Barca's lead when he ran onto Andreas Christensen's pass and slotted home, but the goal was crafted by Felix, whose clever dummy allowed the ball to find the Polish striker.

Marc-Andre ter Stegen produced a superb save to deny Willian Jose after Isco cleverly found the Brazilian forward near the penalty spot.

Silva foiled Felix just before half-time at the end of a quick counter-attack, as Barca sought to put the game out of sight.

Torres, selected ahead of teen starlet Lamine Yamal, netted the third, with a low free kick around the wall - the first Barca have scored since a Lionel Messi strike in May 2021.

Raphinha, who replaced Torres, quickly added the fourth just moments after entering the fray with a drilled effort from outside the area into the bottom corner.

On-loan Manchester City defender Cancelo gleefully added the fifth to cap an excellent individual display, skinning former Barca left-back Juan Miranda and driving beyond the despairing Silva.

Whether new-look Barca can match Europe's best remains to be seen but this rampant display highlighted the improved attacking quality at their disposal this season.

RESULTS

Barcelona 5 (Felix 25, Lewandowski 32, Ferran 62, Raphinha 66, Cancelo 81) 0 Betis 

Athletic 3 (Guruzeta 66, Villalibre 68, Inaki 90) Cadiz 0

Valencia 3 (Duro 5, 34, Guerra 54) Atletico 0

Celta 0 Mallorca 1 (Muriqi 85)

Friday

Vallecano 2 (Palazon 43-P, Frutos 82) Alaves 0