Lamine Yamal Shines as Barcelona Crush Betis to Reach Copa del Rey Quarter-Finals
Seventeen-year-old sensation Lamine Yamal delivered a standout performance as Barcelona stormed into the Copa del Rey quarter-finals with an emphatic 5-1 victory over Real Betis at the Olympic Stadium. The young star not only found the net but also played a key role in creating two other goals, showcasing his immense potential as Hansi Flick’s side dominated the match.
Barcelona’s commanding win featured goals from Gavi, Jules Koundé, Raphinha, Ferran Torres, and Yamal himself, further highlighting the Catalan club’s resurgence in form. This victory comes just days after their Spanish Super Cup triumph, where they dismantled Real Madrid in Saudi Arabia, signaling a return to confidence after a challenging end to 2024.
From the outset, Barcelona took control of the game despite resting several key players, including star striker Robert Lewandowski. In his absence, Dani Olmo, who recently obtained a temporary playing license under controversial circumstances, stepped in as a false nine.
Olmo made an immediate impact, orchestrating the move that led to the opening goal. After some slick interplay, Gavi finished expertly in the second minute to give Barcelona an early lead. The early stages saw Olmo heavily involved, firing one shot over the bar and striking the post, as he kept the Betis defense on their toes.
Yamal’s brilliance shone through in the buildup to Barcelona’s second goal. The teenager delivered a deftly chipped pass to Jules Koundé, who powered the ball into the net from the right side of the box. The same area continued to trouble Betis throughout the match, and while Koundé thought he had scored a second goal, it was disallowed for a narrow offside call.
Betis had their moments too, with Barcelona’s goalkeeper Iñaki Peña making a crucial save to deny Vitor Roque, who is currently on loan from the Catalans.
In the second half, Yamal thought he had added to Barcelona’s tally after finishing off a lobbed pass from Frenkie de Jong. However, the goal was ruled out for offside in the buildup. The setback didn’t deter Barcelona, as they scored their third minutes later. Yamal embarked on a surging run from deep inside his own half, and although his deflected shot didn’t go in, it fell kindly to Raphinha, who made no mistake in converting the chance.
Barcelona continued to exploit Betis’ vulnerabilities on the right side of the box. Their fourth goal came from another well-worked move, with Olmo lofting a precise pass to substitute Ferran Torres, who finished with aplomb.
Yamal capped off his incredible performance with a well-deserved goal. Cutting in from the right wing, he finished neatly at the near post, putting the game well beyond Betis’ reach.
Betis managed to pull one back late in the game from the penalty spot. Jules Koundé’s challenge on Jesús Rodríguez was deemed a foul, and Vitor Roque stepped up to convert the spot-kick.
The victory ensures Barcelona’s place in the Copa del Rey quarter-finals, continuing their strong start to the new year. Meanwhile, other teams in the competition will aim to join them, with Real Madrid set to host Celta Vigo and defending cup champions Athletic Bilbao welcoming Osasuna in Thursday’s fixtures.
