Ferran Torres scores first half hat-trick as Roony Bardghji and Lamine Yamal also on scoresheet

TORRES SCORES FIRST-HALF HAT-TRICK AS BARCELONA HIT FIVE

Ferran Torres scored his second La Liga hat-trick as Barcelona ran riot to move four points clear at the top of the table despite a late Real Betis comeback in a thrilling 5-3 victory.

Barca boss Hansi Flick opted to make three changes from the side which beat Atletico Madrid 3-1 in midweek, with Torres and Marcus Rashford replacing Robert Lewandowski and Raphinha, and Roony Bardghji making just his third start of the season in place of the injured Dani Olmo.

Flick’s changes were fully justified within 45 minutes as Barca outclassed Manuel Pellegrini’s side, despite being forced to come from behind after an early Antony goal.

Real Betis were the only side to deny Barca a win last season, and it looked to be heading a similar way when Abde Ezzalzouli’s diagonal ball ran into the path of Pablo Fornals and he threaded through Antony who, on the turn, smashed his effort into the roof of the net inside six minutes.  

Betis were not given long to bask in their opener as Jules Kounde connected with Lamine Yamal’s through-ball and set up Torres, who flicked his effort past Alvaro Valles to put his side level.

The Spain international scored a second minutes later when Bardghji whipped in a cross from the right-hand side for Torres to volley home.

Bardghji made it three for the visitors just after 30 minutes when Pedri played the Swede through on goal, with the 20-year-old claiming his first La Liga goal since his move in the summer.

Torres completed his hat-trick shortly before half-time as he scored with a deflected effort from the outside of the box.

Image credit: Getty Images

All hope of a comeback died just 10 minutes into the second half when VAR called the referee over to the screen after Rashford’s shot hit the hip and arm of former Barcelona player Marc Bartra and, despite both managers appearing to be in agreement, the referee would ultimately point to the spot, with Yamal sending Valles the wrong way to put Barca 5-1 ahead.

Real Betis thought they had pulled a goal back on 79 minutes when Pablo Garcia played in Cucho Hernandez, before the flag was raised for offside, but there was late drama as substitute Diego Llorente poked home from a corner.

Rashford came close to grabbing Barcelona’s sixth goal of the game when he failed to convert from a one-on-one, but it was Real Betis who would claim a late goal as Kounde was penalised for a foul in the penalty box, with Cucho converting from the spot.

Second-placed Real Madrid play Celta Vigo on Sunday, while Real Betis remain fifth in the standings after the defeat.

Image credit: Getty Images