(Reuters) – In a nail-biting match on Sunday, Barcelona clinched a 4-2 win against Real Betis, with last-minute goals from substitute Joao Felix and striker Ferran Torres completing a hat-trick. This victory helped ease some of the pressure on manager Xavi Hernandez in what has been a tumultuous season for the team. With 44 points, Barcelona currently ranks third in the LaLiga standings, trailing seven points behind leaders Real Madrid and five points behind second-placed Girona, who were set to host Sevilla later on Sunday.
After a devastating loss to fierce rivals Real Madrid in the Spanish Super Cup final and a struggle in their comeback win against third-division team Unionistas in the Copa del Rey quarter-finals last week, Barcelona faced yet another tough challenge. Despite the odds, the team managed to salvage a crucial victory.
Torres kicked off the scoring in the 21st minute, tapping in a cross from Pedri on the right. He then extended Barcelona’s lead in the 49th minute by capitalizing on a rebound from a Lamine Yamal strike that hit the crossbar.
However, Real Betis fought back as Isco scored twice in just four minutes to level the score. As Betis dominated the possession, Felix seized the opportunity to strike a tidy finish from the edge of the box in the 91st minute during a quick counter-attack.
Just three minutes into added time, Torres sealed the deal with his third goal, securing a hard-fought win for last year’s champions and handing Real Betis their first home loss of the season.
Manager Xavi shared his thoughts with Movistar Plus, stating, “We had a solid two-goal lead, but then things got complicated due to a defensive mistake, causing some tension. We should have secured the win earlier, but we managed to triumph in a stadium where no one had previously won.”
He added, “It wasn’t a great game because of the two goals we conceded, but it was a great victory. Let’s look ahead.”
(Reporting by Fernando KallasEditing by Toby Davis)
