Yamal leads dominant Barca past Betis into Copa Del Rey quarters

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ADDS Flick quotes, details

Lamine Yamal produced a spectacular show as Barcelona cruised into the Copa del Rey quarter-finals with a dazzling 5-1 win over Real Betis on Wednesday.

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

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

Gavi put Barcelona ahead early on, with Jules Konde, Raphinha, Ferran Torres and Yamal helping the Catalans to an impressive win.

After winning the Spanish Super Cup in Saudi Arabia last weekend by beating Real Madrid, Barca entered the cup clash with renewed confidence after stuttering 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 enjoyed watching him for many years, now the whole world is, and he deserves it all.”

Barca dominated from the start against Betis, despite the coach resting a few key players, including striker Robert Lewandowski.

Dani Olmo, who Barcelona controversially granted a temporary playing license to 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 poking home in the second minute.

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

Konde smashed Barcelona’s second after the sublime Yamal slipped a ball through to him on the right of the box.

It was an area the Catalans exploited time and time again, with Kounde’s second goal from a similar position disallowed for marginally offside.

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

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

Minutes later, Barcelona scored their third anyway, with Yamal’s undulating run from deep in his own half ending with his deflected effort falling to Raphinha who struck.

Barcelona scored their fourth when Olmo again exploited the same part of Betis’ area, flicking a pass to substitute Ferran Torres to finish emphatically.

Yamal finally got on the scoresheet himself when he cut in from the right wing and finished at the near post.

Roque pulled one back from the penalty spot in the closing stages for Betis after Konde stepped on Jesus Rodriguez’s foot in the penalty area.

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

“Gavi is very emotional so I say yes too (he’s the best),” joked Flick.

“You can see it, in big matches you see great talent, and he showed it many times, he is on the right track.”

Yamal, who shone for Spain as they 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 side ran out comfortable winners at Elche to continue their winning streak.

Alexander Sorloth struck twice for the Rojiblancos in the first half and the visitors were further strengthened when Elche’s Nico Fernandez was sent off early in the second half.

Rodrigo Riquelme extended Atletico’s lead with a fine strike from distance and Julian Alvarez completed the round.

On Thursday, Spanish champions Real Madrid host Celta Vigo, and cup holders Athletic Bilbao welcome Osasuna.

rbs/dj