Another thrashing, another five goals. Barça under Flick has rediscovered its best version, one that completely overwhelms its opponents. It already happened in the Super Cup final and has happened again in this round of 16 match.
Betis wasn't there, they simply tried to hold on, but without success. Pellegrini's team is going through a rough patch, they need to improve if they want to aim for Europe. It's also true that they were up against what might be the most in-form team in the league or at least the one playing the best.
Unstoppable
Barça is on a roll, like at the start of the season, with an overwhelming style. It didn't take even five minutes to open the scoring, Gavi made it 1-0 with a good shot. The Sevillian is back, regaining his best level and showing he wants to be a starter.
Olmo, who returned to the starting line-up, had the second, but hit the post.
However, this didn't stop Barça, quite the opposite, as they sought Vieites's goal even more. Before the half-hour mark, Lamine invented a fabulous pass for Koundé, and the Frenchman beat the Portuguese for 2-0. The connection between them is becoming more fruitful; in fact, the full-back scored another, but it was disallowed for offside.
Raphinha and Lamine attacking from the wings, Pedri directing the team, and Gavi making numbers. Betis couldn't withstand the culé offensive, couldn't play out from the back, or generate attacks.
Lamine is Extraordinary
Seeing how the first half had unfolded, Pellegrini made a couple of changes, intending to change his team's image. However, Barça wasn't just going to stop but was going to shift into three more gears. Before the hour mark, Raphinha made it 3-0 after a great play by Lamine.
Flick made several changes to rest his players, but left the '19' on the field to see if he could get his goal. And he did, after having one disallowed, the young Barça star made it 4-0, thus transfer another spectacular match. Ferran also took advantage of his minutes, as after a pass from De Jong, he blasted past the Betis goalkeeper.
The consolation goal for Betis was scored by Vitor Roque, with a penalty that Iñaki Peña almost saved. The final result, another five-goal haul, the second consecutive for a team full of confidence. It also boasts a true gem, one of those players destined to leave a mark on the world of soccer.