Yamal drives dominant Barcelona past Betis

BARCELONA — Lamine Yamal put on a spectacular show as Barcelona sailed into the Copa del Rey quarterfinals with a dazzling 5-1 victory over Real Betis on Wednesday.

Atletico Madrid joined it in the last eight with a 4-0 win at second division Elche, its 15th consecutive triumph across all competitions.

Barca's 17-year-old starlet Yamal scored and helped create two more goals as Hansi Flick's side ran riot at the Olympic Stadium.

Gavi sent Barcelona ahead early on, with Jules Kounde, Raphinha, Ferran Torres and Yamal helping the Catalans rack up an impressive win.

After winning the Spanish Super Cup in Saudi Arabia last weekend by thrashing Real Madrid, Barca came into the cup clash with restored confidence, having stuttered in the final weeks of 2024.

"We have to continue like this," said Barca defender Pau Cubarsi, also 17, who came through the club's youth academy with Yamal.

"I've been enjoying watching him for many years, now the whole world is, and he deserves it all."

Barca dominated from the off against Betis, despite the coach resting a couple of key players including striker Robert Lewandowski.

Dani Olmo, whom Barcelona controversially obtained a temporary playing license for last week, started at false nine in place of the Polish veteran.

The Spaniard helped create the opening goal at the sharp end of a neat team move, with Gavi tucking home in the second minute.

Olmo fired over and hit the post during a particularly busy opening period for the former RB Leipzig playmaker.

Kounde smashed in Barcelona's second after the sublime Yamal dinked a ball through to him on the right of the box.

It was an area the Catalans exploited time after time, with Kounde's second goal from a similar position disallowed for a marginal offside.

At the other end goalkeeper Inaki Pena made a fine save to deny Vitor Roque, on loan at Betis from Barcelona.

Gavi 'big talent'

Early in the second half Yamal, who taunted Betis' defense throughout, finished clinically after Frenkie De Jong lobbed the ball through to him on the right of the box, but it was disallowed for an offside in the build-up.

Minutes later Barcelona scored its third anyway, with Yamal's surging run from deep in his own half ending up with his deflected effort falling to Raphinha, who struck.

Barcelona netted its fourth when, again exploiting the same part of Betis' area, Olmo chipped a pass to substitute Torres to finish emphatically.

Yamal finally got on the scoresheet himself after breaking in from the right wing and finishing at the near post.

Roque pulled one back from the penalty spot in the final stages for Betis after Kounde stood on Jesus Rodriguez's foot in the penalty area.

Gavi said after the game Yamal was the best player in the world after former Barca forward Lionel Messi, and Flick also praised the winger.

"Gavi's very emotional, so I say also yes (he's the best)," joked Flick.

"You can see it, in great matches you see big talent and he showed it many, many times, he's on a good (path)."

Yamal, who shone for Spain as it won Euro 2024 last summer, has nine goals and 13 assists across all competitions for Barcelona this season.

Atletico coach Diego Simeone rested some of his regular starters, including Antoine Griezmann, as his team ran out comfortable winner at Elche to continue its winning streak.

AFP